IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-PKN1 is a Novel Therapeutic Target for the Optimal Control of GvHD

PKN1 is a Novel Therapeutic Target for the Optimal Control of GvHD

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Video Summary

The speaker described how allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation can cure blood cancers but often causes graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Baricitinib appears better than ruxolitinib because, beyond JAK1/2 inhibition, it also targets the kinase PKN1. PKN1 knockout in donor T cells improved survival, reduced GVHD, and preserved regulatory T-cell function in mouse transplant models. Downstream signaling changes supported this mechanism, and patient RNA data showed PKN1-related pathways were suppressed in baricitinib-treated samples. The work suggests PKN1 is a novel therapeutic target to reduce GVHD while maintaining beneficial graft-versus-leukemia effects.

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Date April 17, 2026 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Room 102

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

Speaker Jaebok Choi

Track Transplantation Immunology (TRAN)

Year 2026

Keywords

allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

graft-versus-host disease

baricitinib

PKN1 kinase

graft-versus-leukemia

April 17, 2026 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

102

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

Jaebok Choi

Transplantation Immunology (TRAN)

2026