Peter H. Koo, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology/Immunology

Northeastern Ohio Universities
Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy
4209 State Route 44, P.O. Box 95
Rootstown, Ohio 44272-0095
Phone: (330) 325-6136
E-Mail: pkoo@neoucom.edu

 

Education:

1970 Ph.D., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
1964 B.A., University of Washington, Seattle, WA

 

Professional Experience:

1994-Present Professor, Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rootstown, OH.
1977-1994 Assistant Professor/Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, OH.
1987-Present Graduate Faculty, Neuroscience Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH.
1990-1993 Affiliated Member of Graduate Faculty, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH.
1978-1987 Adjunct Graduate Faculty, Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH.
1979-1987 Adjunct Graduate Faculty, Department of Biology, Kent State University, Kent, OH.
1975-1977 Assistant Professor of Oncology/Assistant Professor of Radiology, The John Hopkins Medical Institute, The Oncology Center and Department of Radiology, Baltimore, MD.
1974-1975 Staff Fellow, National Institute on Aging; National Institutes of Health; Gerontology Research Center; Baltimore City Hospitals, Baltimore, MD.
1971-1973, 1974 Postdoctoral Fellow, The Johns Hopkins University Department of Biology, Baltimore, MD.
1967-1970 Research Fellow of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.
1965-1967 Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

 

Research Interests:

  • Role of innate immune molecules (vis-à-vis α2-macroglobulin family proteins, placental protein-14, and inflammatory cytokines) in the regulation of T lymphocytes.

  • Neuroimmune mechanisms in nerve regeneration and degeneration.

  • Mechanism of neuroinhibition and neurostimulation by the α2-macroglobulin family of proteins.

 

Recent Publications

Dr. Koo's publications listed in PubMed


Lee, P.G. and Koo, P.H. 2000. Rat alpha-1-macroglobulin enhances NGF-promoted neurite outgrowth, trkA phos-phorylation, and gene expression of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. J. Neurochem. 74:81-91.


Riely, G.J., Rachmilewitz, J., Koo P.H. , and Tykocinski, M.L. 2000. Alpha-2-macroglobulin modulates the immunoregulatory function of the lipocalin placental protein-14. Biochem. J. 351:503-508.


Skornika, E. L., Shi, X., and Koo, P.H. 2002. Comparative binding of biotinylated neurotrophins to α-2macroglobulin family of proteins: relationship between cytokine-binding and neuro-modulatory activities of the macroglobulins. J. Neurosci. Res. 67:346-353.


Chiabrando, G.A., Sanchez, M.C., Skornicka, E.L., and Koo, P.H. 2002. Low density lipoprotein recepted-related protein (LRP) mediates in PC12 cell cultures the inhibition of NGF-promoted neurite-outgrowth by pregnancy zone protein and alpha2-macroglobulin. J. Neurosci. Res. 70:57-64.


Skornicka, E.L., Kiyatkina, N., Weber M.C., Tykocinski, M.L., and Koo, P.H. 2005. Pregnancy zone protein is a carrier and modulator of placental protein-14 in T cell growth and cytokine production. Cellular Immunology 232:144-156.