IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-IL-39/IL-39R Signaling Drives Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease by Promoting Pathogenic T-Cell Responses

IL-39/IL-39R Signaling Drives Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease by Promoting Pathogenic T-Cell Responses

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker presented research on IL-39 and its receptor signaling in acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. They showed that higher IL-39 levels in patient plasma were associated with GVHD, increased non-relapse mortality, and worse overall survival. In cell and mouse models, IL-39 enhanced donor T-cell proliferation, increased inflammatory cytokines, promoted Th1 and Th17 differentiation, and reduced Treg differentiation. The study found that IL-39 signals through IL-23Rα and GP130, independent of the classical IL-12Rβ1 pathway, and this signaling accelerated GVHD while preserving graft-versus-leukemia effects. Human experiments confirmed similar effects, and PLA assays suggested IL-39 receptor complex formation. Overall, IL-39 was proposed as a potential therapeutic target to mitigate GVHD.

Meta Tag

Date April 17, 2026 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Room 102

Session From A to X: Next-Gen Targets & Interventions for Alloimmunity, GVHD, and Xenotransplantation

Speaker Denggang Fu

Track Transplantation Immunology (TRAN)

Year 2026

Keywords

IL-39

acute graft-versus-host disease

hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

IL-23Rα and GP130 signaling

donor T-cell proliferation

April 17, 2026 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM

102

From A to X: Next-Gen Targets & Interventions for Alloimmunity, GVHD, and Xenotransplantation

Denggang Fu

Transplantation Immunology (TRAN)

2026