Michael R. York, MD

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Our group is currently investigating the role of the innate immune system on the development of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). This disease is characterized by thick skin and scarring of internal organs such as the lungs as well as vascular problems such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, pulmonary hypertension and gangrene. We are trying to determine how the immune system causes these problems and develop new therapeutics to treat this disease.

We are currently focusing on how dysfunction of the patient’s immune system occurs and how this leads to vascular and fibrotic disease. We are focusing on receptors of the innate immune system called toll-like receptors that typically recognize viral or bacterial DNA or RNA. Recently it has been found that immune complexes found in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Scleroderma can trigger these receptors by allowing self-DNA or RNA to enter cells, thereby overcoming some of the protective mechanisms preventing the host to develop an immune response against itself.

Publications

  • Published 6/13/2025

    Calderon-Casellas C, Mumber H, Waterman DR, Kissin EY, Mehan WA, York MR, Lam CS. En Coup D'une Veine: Anatomy of a Novel Morphea Mimicker. Int J Dermatol. 2025 Jun 13. PMID: 40515375.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 7/30/2023

    Ezeh N, Sirek G, Ulysse SN, Williams JN, Chandler MT, Ojikutu BO, York M, Crespo-Bosque M, Jean-Jacques M, Roberson T, Mancera-Cuevas K, Milaeger H, Losina E, Dhand A, Son MB, Ramsey-Goldman R, Feldman CH. Understanding Stakeholders' Perspectives to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Uptake Among Black Individuals With Rheumatic Conditions. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Dec; 75(12):2508-2518. PMID: 37309724.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/19/2021

    Farina A, Rosato E, York M, Gewurz BE, Trojanowska M, Farina GA. Innate Immune Modulation Induced by EBV Lytic Infection Promotes Endothelial Cell Inflammation and Vascular Injury in Scleroderma. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:651013. PMID: 33953718.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/4/2019

    Bonegio RG, Lin JD, Beaudette-Zlatanova B, York MR, Menn-Josephy H, Yasuda K. Lupus-Associated Immune Complexes Activate Human Neutrophils in an Fc?RIIA-Dependent but TLR-Independent Response. J Immunol. 2019 02 01; 202(3):675-683. PMID: 30610165.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/28/2017

    Farina A, Peruzzi G, Lacconi V, Lenna S, Quarta S, Rosato E, Vestri AR, York M, Dreyfus DH, Faggioni A, Morrone S, Trojanowska M, Farina GA. Epstein-Barr virus lytic infection promotes activation of Toll-like receptor 8 innate immune response in systemic sclerosis monocytes. Arthritis Res Ther. 2017 Feb 28; 19(1):39. PMID: 28245863.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 23 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, Arthritis & Autoimmune Diseases Research Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst, MD
  • University of New Hampshire, BS

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