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Peter Gaskill

Peter Gaskill, PhD

Associate Professor


Department: Pharmacology & Physiology

Education

  • BA in History, BS in Biochemistry - University of California, San Diego (1999)
  • PhD in Biological Sciences - The Scripps Research Institute (2006)

Awards & Honors

  • Outstanding Service and Support Award, Society for Neuroimmune Pharmacology (2017)
  • Drexel University Career Development Grant (2016)
  • Chair, “Pharmacology and Signaling of Drugs of Abuse” Symposium (2014)
  • Travel Fellowship, Tenth International Catecholamine Symposium (2012)
  • Top Cited Article, Cellular Immunology 2009 – 2011 (2012)
  • Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01), NIDA (2010)
  • Young Investigator Travel Award, Society for Neuroimmune Pharmacology (2010, 2009, 2008)
  • Dennis Shields Travel Award, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2009)
  • Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F32), NIDA (2008)

Memberships / Professional Affiliations

  • New York Academy of Sciences
  • International Society of Neurovirology
  • Society of Neuroimmune Pharmacology
    • Member, Awards Committee (2012 – 2013)
    • Member, Meetings Committee (2013 – Present)
    • Council Member, Ad-Hoc (2014 – Present)

Postgraduate Training / Additional Certifications

  • Postdoctoral fellow - The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences, Laboratory of Dr. Howard S. Fox (2006)
  • Postdoctoral fellow - Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Dr. Joan W. Berman (2006 – 2010)

Peter Gaskill, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Research Overview

Research Interests

HIV, drug abuse, neuroimmunity, neurotransmission, macrophage immunology, dopamine, serotonin, catecholamines

Research

Dr. Gaskill recently presented at a seminar during a weekly series for medical and graduate students at the University of Insubria in Varese, Italy. He was invited to give a talk on the role of dopamine in HIV infection of the CNS, by Marco Cosentino and Franca Marino, who run the Center for Research in Medical Pharmacology at the university.

Research in the Gaskill Lab examines the impact of drug abuse on the development of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND), focusing on dopamine-mediated changes in HIV infection in macrophages and on macrophage immune function. Our work has shown that dopamine increases the susceptibility of macrophages to HIV infection, at least in part through interaction with the endogenous macrophage dopaminergic system.

The effects of dopamine on HIV infection of macrophages and other mononuclear phagocytes in the CNS may be a novel common mechanism by which drugs of abuse can intensify the development of HAND. These studies also provide important information on the impact of both illicit drugs and the many legal therapeutics that modulate neurotransmission, such as Abilify, Ritalin, Wellbutrin and Zoloft, on neuroimmune function. Improving our understanding of the interaction of neurotransmitters such as dopamine with macrophages in the context of CNS infection may enable us to devise new therapeutic strategies to directly combat these insults or to boost CNS immune function.

In the Media

Publications

"The Role of Catecholamines in HIV Neuropathogenesis"
Nolan R, Gaskill PJ
Brain Research; 1702:54-73, 2019

"Role of Macrophage Dopamine Receptors in Mediating Cytokine Production: Implications for Neuroinflammation in the Context of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders"
Nolan RA, Muir R, Runner K, Haddad EK, Gaskill PJ
Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology: The official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, 2018

"The Dopamine Transporter: An Unrecognized Nexus for Dysfunctional Peripheral Immunity and Signaling in Parkinson's Disease"
Mackie P, Lebowitz J, Saadatpour L, Nickoloff E, Gaskill P, Khoshbouei H
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity; 70:21-35, 2018

"HIV, Tat and Dopamine Transmission"
Gaskill PJ, Miller DR, Gamble-George J, Yano H, Khoshbouei H
Neurobiology of Disease; 105:51-73, 2017

"Dopamine Increases CD14+CD16+ Monocyte Transmigration across the Blood Brain Barrier: Implications for Substance Abuse and HIV Neuropathogenesis"
Calderon TM, Williams DW, Lopez L, Eugenin EA, Cheney L, Gaskill PJ, Veenstra M, Anastos K, Morgello S, Berman JW
Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology: the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, 12(2):353-370, 2017

"Dopamine Increases CD14+CD16+ Migration and Adhesion in the Context of Substance Abuse and HIV Neuropathogenesis"
JS Coley, TM Calderon, PJ Gaskill, EA Eugenin, JW Berman
PLoS One, 10(2):e0117450. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117450 (Feb 3, 2015)

"Dopamine Receptor Activation Increases HIV Entry into Primary Human Macrophages"
PJ Gaskill, HH Yano, GV Kalpana, JA Javitch, JW Berman
PLoS One, 9(9):e108232. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108232 (2014)

"Monocytes and Their Transmigration Across the BBB: Mechanisms That Mediate HIV Neuropathogenesis"
DW Williams, M Veenstra, PJ Gaskill, TM Calderon, JW Berman
Curr HIV Res, 12(2):85-96 (2014)

"Mechanisms of HIV Entry Into the CNS: Increased Sensitivity of HIV Infected CD14+CD16+ Monocytes to CCL2 and Key Roles of CCR2, JAM-A, and ALCAM in Diapedesis"
DW Williams, TM Calderon, L Lopez, L Carvallo, PJ Gaskill, EA Eugenin, S Morgello, JW Berman
PLOS One (June 2013)

"Drug Induced Increases in CNS Dopamine Alters Monocyte, Macrophage and T-cell Functions: Implications for HAND"
PJ Gaskill, TM Calderon, J Coley, JW Berman
Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology (March 2013)

"Characterization and Function of the Human Macrophage Dopaminergic System: Implications for CNS Disease and Drug Abuse"
PJ Gaskill, L Carvallo, EA Eugenin, JW Berman
Journal of Neuroinflammation, 9:203 (August 2012)

"HIV Infection of Human Macrophages Is Increased by Dopamine: A Bridge Between HIV Associated Neurologic Disorders and Drug Abuse"
PJ Gaskill, TM Calderon, AJ Luers, EA Eugenin, JA Javitch, JW Berman
American Journal of Pathology, 175(3):1148-59 (September 2009)

"Tunneling Nanotubes (TNT) a Potential Mechanism for HIV Intercellular Trafficking"
EA Eugenin, PJ Gaskill, JW Berman
Communicative & Integrative Biology, 2(3):243-4 (May 2009)

"Tunneling Nanotubes (TNT) Are Induced by HIV-Infection of Macrophages: A Potential Mechanism for Intercellular HIV Trafficking"
EA Eugenin, PJ Gaskill, JW Berman
Cellular Immunology, 254(2):142-8 (2009)

"Macrophage Derived SIV Exhibits Enhanced Infectivity by Comparison with T-cell Derived Virus"
PJ Gaskill, M Zandonatti, T Gilmartin, SR Head, HS Fox
Journal of Virology, 82(3):1615-21 (2008)

"Trim5alpha Accelerates Degradation of Cytosolic Capsid Associated With Productive HIV-1 Entry"
U Chatterji, MD Bobardt, PJ Gaskill, D Sheeter, H Fox, PA Gallay
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1;281(48):37025-33 (2006)

"Development and Characterization of Positively Selected Brain-Adapted SIV"
PJ Gaskill, DD Watry, TH Burdo, HS Fox
Virology Journal, 12;2:44 (2005)

Presentations

Recent Published Abstracts

"Activation of dopamine receptors increases HIV entry into macrophages by altering Calcium release"
Peter J. Gaskill and JW Berman
Presented at 21st Annual Society for Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference, Miami, Florida, 2015

"Increases in CNS Monoamine Concentrations may exacerbate HIV infections in the CNS by increasing HIV Infection into Primary Human Macrophages"
Peter J. Gaskill and JW Berman
Presented at 20th Annual Society for Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2014

"Activation of Macrophage Dopamine Receptors May Exacerbate HAND by Increasing HIV Entry Into Macrophages and Altering Macrophage Functions"
Gaskill, Peter J., Berman, J.W.
Presented at 19th Annual Society of Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2013

"Drug Induced Increases in CNS Dopamine May Exacerbate HIV Associated Neurological Disorders By Altering HIV Infection and Cytokine Secretion in Human Macrophages"
Gaskill, Peter, J., Carvalho, Loreto, Eugenin EA, Kalpana GV, Javitch JA, Berman, Joan W.
Presented at 11th International Symposium on Neurovirology, New York, New York, May, 2012

"Dopamine Mediated Increases in HIV Replicatoin in Macrophages Are Due In Part to Increased Viral Entry"
Gaskill, Peter J., Berman, J.W.
Presented at 18th Annual Society of Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2012

“Dopamine Modulation of Macrophage Function May Facilitate Development of HIV-Associated Neurological Disorders” 
Gaskill, Peter J.
, Eugenin E.A., Berman Joan W.
Presented at 17th Annual Society of Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference, Clearwater, Florida, 2011

“Mechanisms of Dopamine Mediated Increase in HIV Infection of Human Macrophages”
Gaskill, Peter J., Kalpana GV, Javitch JA, Berman Joan W
Poster Presented at 10th International Symposium on Neurovirology, Milan, Italy, October, 2010

“Mechanisms of Dopamine Mediated Increase in HIV Infection of Human Macrophages”
Gaskill, Peter J., Cano, Jennifer, Kalpana, Ganjam V, Berman, Joan W
Presentation and poster at 16th Annual Society of Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference, Manhattan Beach, California, April 2010

Local Invited Speaking Engagements

“Dopamine, Macrophages and HIV”
Einstein Center for AIDS Research Seminar Series 
Bronx, New York, February 21, 2014

“Dopamine Increases HIV Infection in Macrophages and Alters Macrophage Functions”
Annual Einstein Center for AIDS Research Symposium
Bronx, New York, September 16, 2011

“Dopamine Exacerbates NeuroAIDS by Activation of the Macrophage Dopaminergic System”
Einstein Center for AIDS Research Seminar Series 
Bronx, New York, December 3, 2010

National Invited Speaking Engagements

“Dopamine Increases HIV Infection in Macrophages”
Temple University, Department of Neuroscience Seminar
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 15, 2015

“Dopamine Increases HIV Infection In Macrophages”
University of Nebraska Medical Center Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience Weekly Lecture Series
Omaha, Nebraska, October 17, 2014

“Pharmacology and Signaling of Drugs of Abuse”
Session Chair, 20th Annual Society for Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference New Orleans, Louisiana, March 27, 2014

“Dopamine Increases HIV Infection in Macrophages”
University of Pennsylvania Neurovirology Lecture Series
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 17, 2013

“Dopamine, Macrophages and NeuroAIDS”
National Institutes of Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program
Baltimore, Maryland, May 15, 2012

“Effects of Dopamine on Macrophages and Lymphocytes”
Drugs of Abuse, Dopamine, and HAND/HAD Symposium
Presentation at National Institute of Drug Abuse, Rockville, Maryland, October 4, 2011

“Mechanisms of Dopamine Mediated Increase in HIV Infection of Human Macrophages”
16th Annual Society for Neuroimmune Pharmacology Conference
Manhattan Beach, California, April 8, 2010


Contact Information


Department of Pharmacology & Physiology
245 N. 15th Street
Mail Stop 488
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Office: NCB 8219
Phone: 215.762.7669
Fax: 215.762.2299