Phillip K. Peterson, M.D.

Co-director, CIDMTR
Professor
Department of Medicine
Director, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine

Dr. Peterson directs the Neuroimmunopharmacology (NIP) Program, which is dedicated to understanding how psychoactive drugs, such as opioids, cocaine, cannabinoids, and nicotine, alter the neuropathogenesis of HIV and opportunistic infections of the brain, including tuberculous meningitis. A major focus is on glial cells (microglia and astrocytes) and cytokines/chemokines produced by the cells. Recently, the team has turned their attention to interactions of cytokines/chemokines and neural stem cells. Their primary goal is to discover new therapies for patients with brain damage caused by infections.

Selected Publications:

Hu S, Cheeran MC-J, Sheng WS, Hsiao TN, Lokensgard JR, Peterson PK. Cocaine alters proliferation, migration, and differentiation of human fetal brain-derived neural precursor cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006;318:1280-1286.

Rock RB, Gekker G, Hu S, Sheng WS, Cabral G, Martin BR, Peterson PK. WIN55,212-2-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 expression in microglial cells: Involvement of cannabinoid receptors. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol, 2007:2:178-83.

Sheng WS, Hu S, Herr G, Ni H-T, Rock RB, Gekker G, Lokensgard JR and Peterson PK. Human neural precursor cells express functional kappa opioid receptors. J Pharm Exp Ther. 2007; in press, Epub ahead of print.

Other links

http://www.dom.umn.edu/idim/faculty/fumc/peterson/home.html
http://www.med.umn.edu/imer/directors.html