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Affiliated Provider
Affiliated providers provide medical care at an NYU Langone location or a private practice, and are not employed by NYU Langone Health.

Michael H. Pillinger, MD

Affiliated Provider
Affiliated providers provide medical care at an NYU Langone location or a private practice, and are not employed by NYU Langone Health.
  • Specialty: Rheumatology
  • Treats: Adults
  • Language: English

As a rheumatologist at NYU Langone, I am dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique needs, desires, and concerns of my patients. My fascination with science and the human narrative fuels my commitment to use my knowledge to restore health and wellbeing. My primary focus is on treating patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, lupus, autoimmune vasculitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and particularly gout and other crystal-driven diseases.

I bring a wealth of experience and credentials to my role at NYU Langone. My specialty lies in managing complex autoimmune diseases and joint problems. I employ a variety of treatments, including immune system-modulating medications and joint and soft tissue injections. My dedication to proactive healthcare engagement and patient wellness is evident in my treatment approach, which is informed by scientific knowledge and a deep understanding of my patients’ unique circumstances.

Throughout my career, I have been privileged to witness the transformative power of advanced treatments in rheumatology. One of my most impactful experiences involved a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis who was able to resume her career as a hairdresser after we introduced a new biologic therapy. These moments underscore the importance of staying abreast of medical advancements, a commitment I uphold in my practice.

My journey into medicine was inspired by my passion for science and stories. I studied biochemistry and English and American literature in college, finding in medicine a discipline where I could apply my scientific knowledge and my passion for understanding the human experience. I was drawn to rheumatology by the quality of my mentors, the challenges of my patients’ illnesses, and the intriguing ways in which the body’s immune defenses can sometimes cause harm to itself. As the founding director of the NYU Langone Crystal Diseases Study Group and co-director of the NYU Langone Gout Treatment Center, I am able to contribute to the field of rheumatology through both clinical care and research.


Conditions and Treatments

For Adults
Conditions
  • gout

Positions
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), 1992
Education and Training
  • Fellowship, NYU School of Medicine, Rheumatology, 1993
  • Residency, Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Internal Medicine, 1990
  • MD from New York University, 1987

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Michael H. Pillinger, MD does not accept insurance.

Interests

signal transduction and the regulation of cells involved in inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis

Research Summary

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the tissues of the involved joints assume inflammatory, autoimmune and pseudoneoplastic features. The cells contributing to these phenotypes include neutrophils, which accumulate in the RA joint space, and synovial fibroblasts (SFs), which proliferate in great numbers in the RA synovium (pannus) and secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that participate in the destruction of cartilage.
The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) include the Erks, Jnks and p38. Our laboratory is interested in the role of MAPKs on neutrophils and SF regulation. We are especially interested in the role of Erks. We have observed that, in neutrophils, Erk is rapidly activated in response to chemoattractants and regulates neutrophil adhesion, a critical early step in the acute inflammation. In SFs we have shown that Erk regulates proliferation, but also the release of some (MMP-1,3,9) but not other (MMP-13) metalloproteinases. Interestingly, high-dose salicylates (doses achievable in patients but in excess of those needed to inhibit cyclooxygenase) inhibit Erk in both neutrophils and SFs, and concordantly inhibit neutrophil adhesion and SF MMP release. Non-salicylate nonsteroidals also inhibit cyclooxygenase but do not reproduce these effects. Indeed, COX inhibition actually leads to enhancement of MMP release from synovial fibroblasts.
Our present aims are threefold: 1) to understand the mechanisms through which Erk positively regulates neutrophil adhesion; 2) to understand the cross talk between prostaglandin production and Erk activation in SF responses; 3) to understand the mechanisms through which salicylates inhibit Erk, as a clue into how Erk, and other signaling pathways, may be pharmacologically targeted. A better understanding of these phenomena may lead to new approaches, and new agents, for the treatment of RA.}

These focus areas and their associated publications are derived from PubMed and the MeSH term library. *
represents one publication
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*Due to PubMed processing times, the most recent publications may not be reflected in the timeline.

  • A Multi-Center Phase 2/3 Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Parallel- Group Safety and Efficacy Study of Dapansutrile Tablets in Subjects with an Acute Gout Flare

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  • Treat-to-Target Serum Urate versus Treat-to-Avoid Symptoms in Gout: A Randomized Controlled Trial (TRUST trial)

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  • Rheumatology SAMPLE (Specimen And Matched Phenotype Linked Evaluation) Registry and Biorepository

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View All Research Studies (4)

Read All Publications (250)

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