RESEARCH FOCUS
The Rahaman laboratory is interested in elucidating the molecular signaling events underlying the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases, specifically, atherosclerosis and fibrosis. Using a multipronged approach involving cells from null mouse strains (apoE null, apoE/Trpv4 double null, and Trpv4fl/fl mac null), in vivo and in vitro assay systems, intravital microscopy, mouse models of atherosclerosis and fibrosis, in vivo and in vitro measurements of Ca2+ flux, atomic force microscopy, traction force microscopy, fluorescent imaging techniques, and various genetic/molecular/physiological approaches, the Rahaman lab investigates how Ca2+-elicited signaling and mechanotransduction regulate fibrogenesis and atherogenesis.
2019-present: Associate Professor with tenure; Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland-College Park, MD 20742.
2014-2019: Assistant Professor; Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland-College Park, MD 20742.
2011-2014: Assistant Professor; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
2004-2011: Research Associate/Project Scientist; Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
2000-2004: Post-doctoral Fellow; Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
1999-2000: Post-doctoral Scientist; Department of Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta, India.
1994-1999: PhD Graduate Student; Jadavpur University, Department of Biotechnology, Calcutta, India.
2022-2027 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (9R01AI172086)
$3.6 Million; 5 years
National Institute of Health (NIH)
“Investigate the mechanisms underlying microRNA-146a activity in regulation of foreign body response to biomaterials”
Role: PI (effort: 70%)
2017-2021 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (1R01EB024556-01)
$1.72 Million; 4 years
National Institute of Health (NIH)
“Role of TRPV4 Mechanotransduction in Foreign Body Response”
Role: PI (effort: 90%); Co-PI: Zhu X
2017-2020 National Science Foundation Standard Grant (CMMI-1662776)
$398,499; 3 years
National Science Foundation (NSF)
“Substrate rigidity and long non-coding RNA expression: Role of TRPV4 ion channel”
Role: PI (effort: 90%); Co-PI: Li Ma
2014-2018 National Center Scientist Development Grant (13SDG17310007)
$308,000; 4 years
American Heart Association (AHA)
“The TRPV4 calcium channel is a novel regulator of myofibroblast
differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis”
Role: PI (effort: 100%); PI share amount: 100%
2015-2016 Maryland Agricultural Experiment Competitive Grants Program
$30,000; 1.5 years
University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)
“Role of TRPV4 calcium channel in macrophage foam cell formation”
Role: PI (effort: 100%); PI share amount: 100%
2014-2016 GRA Beginning Grant-in-Aid (12BGIA17240022, rescinded)
$132,000; 2 years
American Heart Association (AHA)
“The TRPV4 calcium channel is a novel regulator of myofibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis”
Role: PI (effort: 100%); PI share amount: 100%
To facilitate review, Dr. Rahaman’s name is highlighted in bold and “*” identifies him as the lead and corresponding author. #Students/postdocs from Dr. Rahaman’s group are indicated.
Editorial: New Insights into Mechanotransduction by Immune Cells in Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Front Immunol. 2022 May 20;13:930362. eCollection 2022. PMID: 35669790. (Impact Factor: 7.6).
Noncovalent reversible binding-enabled facile fabrication of leak-free PDMS microfluidic devices without plasma treatment for convenient cell loading and retrieval. Bioact Mater. 2022 Mar 16;16:346-358. eCollection 2022 Oct. PMID: 35386332. (Impact Factor: 16.4)
##### Role of mechanosensitive channels/receptors in atherosclerosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2022 May 1;322(5):C927-C938. Epub 2022. PMID: 35353635. (Impact Factor: 4.3)
40. Mechanosensing by TRPV4 mediates stiffness-induced foreign body response and giant cell formation. Science Signaling. 2021 Nov 2; 14(707):eabd4077. PMID: 34726952 (Impact factor: 8.2)
39. Alharbi MO#, Dutta B#, Goswami R#, Sharma S#, Rahaman SO*. Identification and functional analysis of a biflavone as a novel inhibitor of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4-dependent atherogenic processes. Scientific Reports. 2021; 11(1):8173. PMID: 33854174. (Impact factor: 5.1)
38. Dutta B#, Goswami R#, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 Plays a Role in Matrix Stiffness-Induced Macrophage Polarization. Front. Immunol. 2020; 11:570195. PMID: 33381111. (Impact factor: 7.6)
37. Arya RK#, Goswami R#, Rahaman SO*. Mechanotransduction via a TRPV4-Rac1 signaling axis plays a role in multinucleated giant cell formation. J Biol Chem. 2021; 296:100129. PMID: 33262217. (Impact Factor: 5.2)
36. Peng M, Tabashsum Z, Anderson M, Truong A, Houser AK, Padilla J, Akmel A, Bhatti J, Rahaman SO, Biswas D. Effectiveness of probiotics, prebiotics, and prebiotic-like components in common functional foods. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2020; 19(4):1908-1933. PMID: 33337097. (Impact factor: 13)
35. Sharma S#, Ma L, Rahaman SO*. Role of TRPV4 in matrix stiffness-induced expression of EMT-specific LncRNA. Mol Cell Biochem. 2020; 474(1-2):189-197. PMID: 32734537. (Impact factor: 3.4)
34. Peng M, Lee SH, Rahaman SO, Biswas D. Dietary probiotic and metabolites improve intestinal homeostasis and prevent colorectal cancer. Food Funct. 2020; 11(12):10724-10735. PMID: 33231228. (Impact factor: 5.4)
33. Tabashsum Z, Peng M, Bernhardt C, Patel P, Carrion M, Rahaman SO, Biswas D. Limiting the pathogenesis of Salmonella Typhimurium with berry phenolic extracts and linoleic acid overproducing Lactobacillus casei. J Microbiol. 2020; 58(6):489-498. PMID: 32329017. (Impact Factor: 3.4)
32. Dutta B#, Arya RK#, Goswami R#, Alharbi MO#, Sharma S#, Rahaman SO*. Role of macrophage TRPV4 in inflammation. Laboratory Investigation, 2020; 100(2):178-185. PMID: 31645630. (Impact factor: 5.7)
31. Dutta B#, Biswas C#, Arya RK#, Rahaman SO*. Gut microbiota and risk for atherosclerosis: current understanding of the mechanisms. Gut microbiome and its impact on health and diseases. Springer Nature, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47384-6_8.
(Editor for the book: ISBN 978-3-030-47383-9)
30. Palaniyandi S, Rajendrakumar AM, Periasamy S, Goswami R#, Tuo W, Zhu X*, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 is dispensable for the development of airway allergic asthma. Laboratory Investigation, 2020; 100(2):265-273. PMID: 31417159. (Impact Factor: 5.7)
[Impact Factor: 4.9].
29. Rahaman SO and Biswas D (joint editor for the book). Gut Microbiome and its impact on health and Diseases. Springer Nature. 2019, Contract Order Number: 86955316.
28. Goswami R#, Arya R#, Biswas D, Zhu X, Rahaman SO*. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is required for foreign body response and giant cell formation. The American Journal of Pathology. 2019; 189(8):1505-1512. PMID: 31121133.
[Impact Factor: 5.1].
27. Sharma S#, Goswami R#, Rahaman SO*. The TRPV4-TAZ mechanotransduction signaling axis in matrix stiffness- and TGFβ1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering. 2019; 12(2):139-152. PMID: 31681446.
(Featured on the cover)
[Impact Factor: 2.3].
26. Gupta N#, Goswami R#, Alharbi MO#, Biswas D, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 is a regulator in P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced exacerbation of macrophage foam cell formation. Physiol Rep. 2019; 7(7):e14069. PMID: 30980509.
[Impact Factor: 2.3].
25. Tabashsum Z, Peng M, Kahan E, Rahaman SO, Biswas D. Effect of conjugated linoleic acid overproducing Lactobacillus with berry pomace phenolic extracts on Campylobacter jejuni pathogenesis. Food Funct. 2019; 10(1):296-303. PMID: 30566169.
[Impact Factor: 5.4].
24. Sharma S#, Goswami R#, Zhang DX, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 regulates matrix stiffness and TGFβ1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Cell Mol Med. 2019; 23(2):761-774. PMID: 30450767.
Most downloaded paper in 2019.
[Impact Factor: 5.3].
23. Sgambat K, Clauss S, Lei KY, Song J, Rahaman SO, Lasota M, Moudgil A. Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in African-American Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients. Pediatric Transplantation, 2018; 22(3): e13163. PMID: 29417707.
[Impact Factor: 1.3].
22. Sgambat K, Clauss S, Lei KY, Song J, Rahaman SO, Lasota M, Moudgil A. Effects of obesity and metabolic syndrome on cardiovascular outcomes in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: a longitudinal study. Pediatric Nephrol. 2018; 33(8);1419-14-28. PMID: 29290033.
[Impact Factor: 1.5].
21. Goswami R#, Merth M#, Sharma S#, Alharbi MO#, Aranda-Espinoza H, Zhu X, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 calcium-permeable channel is a novel regulator of oxidized LDL-induced macrophage foam cell formation. Free Radic Biol Med. 2017; 110:142-150. PMID: 28602913.
[Impact Factor: 7.4].
20. Sharma S#, Goswami R#, Merth M#, Cohen J#, Lei KY, Zhang DX, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 ion channel is a novel regulator of dermal myofibroblast differentiation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2017; 312(5):C562-C572. PMID: 28249987.
[Impact Factor: 4.2].
19. Goswami R#, Cohen J#, Sharma S#, Zhang DX, Lafyatis R, Bhawan J, Rahaman SO*. TRPV4 ion channel is associated with scleroderma. J Invest Dermatol. 2017; 137(4):962-965. PMID: 27889423.
The number 1 Journal in Dermatology.
[Impact Factor: 7.1].
18. Southern BD, Grove LM, Rahaman SO, Abraham S, Scheraga RG, Niese KA, Sun H, Herzog EL, Liu F, Tschumperlin DJ, Egelhoff TT, Rosenfeld SS, Olman MA. Matrix-Driven Myosin II Mediates the Pro-Fibrotic Fibroblast Phenotype. J. Biol Chem. 2016; 291(12):6083-95. PMID: 26763235.
[Impact Factor: 5.2]
17. Rahaman SO*, Grove LM, Paruchuri S, Southern BD, Abraham S, Niese KA, Scheraga RG, Ghosh S, Thodeti CK, Zhang DX, Moran MM, Schilling WP, Tschumperlin DJ, Olman MA*. TRPV4 mediates myofibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis in mice. J. Clin Invest. 2014;124(12):5225-38. PMID: 25365224.
[Impact Factor: 15].
16. Grove LM, Southern BD, Jin TH, White KE, Paruchuri S, Rahaman SO, Gladson CL, Ding Q, Chapman HA, Olman MA. Urokinase receptor (u-PA) ligation induces a raft-localized integrin signaling switch that mediates the hypermotile phenotype of fibrotic fibroblasts. J. Biol Chem. 2014, 289(18):12791-804. PMID: 24644284.
[Impact Factor: 5.2].
15. Rahaman SO*, Li W, Silverstein RL*. Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factors regulate atherosclerotic lesion development in mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013, 33(9):2053-7. PMID: 23825362.
[Impact Factor: 8.3].
14. Ding Q, Cai G, Hu M, Yang Y, Zheng A, Tang Q, Gladson CL, Hayasaka H, Wu H, You Z, Southern BD, Grove LM, Rahaman SO, Fang H, Olman MA. FAK-Related Non-Kinase Is a Multifunctional Negative Regulator of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Pathol. 2013, 182(5):1572-84. PMID: 23499373.
[Impact Factor: 5.1].
13. Rahaman SO*, Zhou G, Silverstein RL*. Vav GEF regulates CD36-mediated macrophage foam cell formation via calcium and dynamin-dependent processes. J. Biol Chem. 2011, 286(41):36011-9. PMID: 21865158.
[Impact Factor: 5.2].
12. Chen K, Li W, Major J, Rahaman SO, Febbraio M, Silverstein RL. Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factors link hyperlipidemia and a prothrombotic state. Blood. 2011, 117 (21):5744-50. PMID: 21427288.
[Impact Factor: 22].
11. Rahaman SO*, Swat W, Febbraio M, Silverstein RL*. Vav family Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors regulate CD36-mediated macrophage foam cell formation. J. Biol Chem. 2011, 286(9):7010-7. PMID: 21209086.
[Impact Factor: 5.2].
10. Silverstein RL, Li W, Park YM, Rahaman SO. Mechanisms of cell signaling by the scavenger receptor CD36: Implication in atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. 2010, 121:206-20. Review. PMID: 20697562.
[Impact Factor: 1].
9. Rahaman SO, Lennon DJ, Febbraio M, Podrez EA, Hazen SL, Silverstein RL. A CD36-dependent signaling cascade is necessary for macrophage foam cell formation. Cell Metab. 2006, 4(3):211-21. PMID: 16950138.
(Featured on the cover)
[Impact Factor: 27].
8. Ghosh MK, Sharma P, Harbor PC, Rahaman SO, Haque SJ. PI3K-AKT pathway negatively controls EGFR-dependent DNA-binding activity of Stat3 in glioblastoma multiforme cells. Oncogene. 2005, 24 (49):7290-300. PMID: 16007122.
[Impact Factor: 9.9].
7. Rahaman SO, Vogelbaum MA, Haque SJ. Aberrant Stat3 signaling by IL-4 in malignant glioma cells: involvement of IL-13Ralpha2. Cancer Res. 2005, 65 (7):2956-63. PMID: 15805299.
[Impact Factor: 12.7].
6. Rahaman SO, Harbor PC, Chernova O, Barnett GH, Vogelbaum MA, Haque SJ. Inhibition of constitutively active Stat3 suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in glioblastoma multiforme cells. Oncogene, 2002, 21(55):8404-13. PMID: 12466961.
[Impact Factor: 9.9].
5. Rahaman SO, Sharma P, Harbor PC, Aman MJ, Vogelbaum MA, Haque SJ. IL-13R(alpha)2, a decoy receptor for IL-13 acts as an inhibitor of IL-4-dependent signal transduction in glioblastoma cells. Cancer Res. 2002, 62(4):1103-9. PMID: 11861389.
[Impact Factor: 12.7].
4. Rahaman SO, Ghosh S, Mohanakumar KP, Das S, Sarkar PK. Oxidative damage and altered neurofilament gene expression in vivo in hypothyroid rat brain. Neurosci Res. 2001, 40(3):273-9. PMID: 11448519.
[Impact Factor: 4.2].
3. Rahaman SO, Ghosh S, Mandal SK, Sarkar PK. Reduced expression and altered distribution of neurofilaments in neurons cultured in thyroid hormone-deficient medium. Neuroreport. 2000, 11(12):2717-22. PMID: 10976950.
[Impact Factor: 1.6].
2. Ghosh S, Rahaman SO, Sarkar PK. Regulation of neurofilament gene expression by thyroid hormone in the rat brain. Neuroreport, 1999, 10(11):2361-5. PMID: 10439464.
[Impact Factor: 1.3].
1. Rahaman SO, Mukherjee J, Chakrabarti A, Pal S. Decreased membrane permeability in a polymyxin B-resistant Escherichia coli mutant exhibiting multiple resistance to beta-lactams as well as aminoglycosides. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1998, 161(2):249-54. PMID: 9570116.
[Impact Factor: 2.7].
2022- National Institute of Health R01 Research Grant Award
2021- University of Maryland MAES Competitive Research Grant Award
2018- Dr. Rahaman has been honored at the UMD’s Inaugural Research Excellence Celebration.
2017- National Institute of Health R01 Research Grant Award
2017- National Science Foundation Standard Research Grant Award
2015- University of Maryland MAES Competitive Research Grant Award
2013- National Scientist Development Grant, American Heart Association
2013- Beginning Grant-in-Aid Award, American Heart Association
2016- Elsa Albrecht Award (1st place), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA, for outstanding publication by a Research Associate/Project Scientist
2006- Junior Investigator Award, The North American Vascular Biology meeting; Finalist
2005- Awarded 2nd place in the poster competition in Research Day, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland.
2005- 2nd place in the poster competition in Gordon International Research Conference on “Atherosclerosis”
2005- Travel Award winner, American Society for Biochemistry and Mol. Biology
2000- Awarded Postdoctoral Fellowship by Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA
1997- Awarded Research Fellowship, Government of India, for PhD thesis work
1991- Awarded Scholarship for Bachelor of Science exam, Government of India
NFSC678F- Title: Ntrtn & Chronic Disease (3 credits, 100% effort)
NFSC498F- Title: Ntrtn & Chronic Disease (3 credits, 100% effort)
NFSC100- Title: Elem of Nutrition (3 credits; 25% effort)
NFSC678M- Title: Ntrtn. & inflammatory disease (3 credits, 100% effort)
Session Chair and talk at International symposium on TRP channels. Talk title: TRPV4
mechanosensing in foreign body response. 2020, Wakayama Medical School, Wakayama, Japan.
Invited Speaker at Experimental Biology International Annual Meeting, Orlando. Talk title: P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induced exacerbation of oxidized LDL-mediated macrophage foam cell formation is reliant on TRPV4 channel Orlando, FL, USA, 2019.
Organizing committee member and Keynote Speaker at 13th International Conference on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, 2018, July 12-13, Paris, France.
Keynote Speaker, session co-Chair, and Organizing committee member for International Conference on wound care, tissue repair, and regenerative medicine, 2018, June, London, UK.
Keynote Speaker at annual TRPV Symposia: Invited Talk: TRPV4 mechanotransduction in cell differentiation, Wakayama Medical School, Wakayama, Japan, 2018.
Organizing committee member and Keynote Speaker at 2nd International Conference on Chronic Diseases, 2018, July 16-17, Berlin, Germany.
Keynote Speaker and sessions Chair at 2nd International Conference on advances in skin, wound care and tissue science. Talk Title: “TRPV4 channel regulates skin fibrosis and is associated with scleroderma”. Frankfurt, Germany, Nov 9-10, 2017.
Invited Speaker at International Conference on chronic diseases. Talk Title: “Role of TRPV4 calcium-permeable channel in atherosclerosis”. Brussels, Belgium, 2017.
Invited Speaker (Rishov Goswami, PhD student) at American Association of Dermatology International Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 3-7, 2017. Talk title: TRPV4 channel mediates dermal fibroblast differentiation and is associated with scleroderma; Orlando, FL, USA, 2017.
Invited Speaker at Keystone International symposia on Injury, Inflammation, and Fibrosis; Talk Title: TRPV4 Channel Regulates Dermal Fibrosis and is Associated with Scleroderma, Snowbird, Utah, USA, 2017.
Keynote Speaker at annual TRPV Symposia: Invited Talk: TRPV4 mechanotransduction in cell differentiation. Wakayama Medical School, Wakayama, Japan, 2016.