Dr. Roman's research focuses on transcription factors and receptors that control lymphocyte development and function, with the goal of identifying the normal molecular circuitry that becomes deranged in immunological diseases. A priority are the transcription factors TFE3 and TFEB, which are mutated in renal malignancies. Using approaches that include transgenic mice and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a major discovery was that TFE3 and TFEB are critical activators of CD40L expression necessary for protective antibody responses. These studies opened new avenues for research into better understanding and treatment of autoimmune diseases and B cell malignancies in which CD40L expression is abnormal and drives disease.
Huan C, Kelly ML, Steele R, Shapira I, Gottesman SR, Roman CA. Transcription factors TFE3 and TFEB are critical for CD40 ligand expression and thymus-dependent humoral immunity. Nat Immunol. 2006 Oct;7(10):1082-91. Epub 2006 Aug 27.
Guloglu FB, Roman CA. Precursor B cell receptor signaling activity can be uncoupled from surface expression. J Immunol. 2006 Jun 1;176(11):6862-72.
Huan C, Sashital D, Hailemariam T, Kelly ML, Roman CA. Renal carcinoma-associated transcription factors TFE3 and TFEB are leukemia inhibitory factor-responsive transcription activators of E-cadherin. J Biol Chem. 2005 Aug 26;280(34):30225-35. Epub 2005 Jun 30.