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Jacki Kornbluth, Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Research
Department of Pathology

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowships
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
University of Pennsylvania

Doctor of Philosophy
Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences

Research Interests

The focus of Jacki Kornbluth's laboratory is the study of innate immunity. Initial investigations concentrated on natural killer (NK) cells, a small subset of lymphocytes with tumor-killing properties. Kornbluth's laboratory generated the first human NK clone, NK3.3. Analysis of genes that regulate NK anti-tumor activity led to the discovery of NKLAM, a new member of a small family of unique ubiquitin ligases. Studies are ongoing to further define the role of NKLAM in NK activity. NKLAM is also upregulated in activated macrophages, playing a role in their anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities. Kornbluth's team generated NKLAM-deficient mice; they have defective NK and macrophage activity, leading to diminished immunity to tumors, bacteria and viruses. Her team continues to investigate how NKLAM regulates these functions.

NK cells, like all cells, produce and release small nano-sized membrane bound particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs). Kornbluth's team discovered that NK EVs, like their parental cell, contain the cytotoxic molecules used for tumor killing and can selectively kill tumor cells while sparing normal, healthy cells. They are now performing preclinical studies on the therapeutic potential of NK-derived EVs to treat cancer patients.

Labs and Facilities

Kornbluth's laboratory is located on the third floor of the Doisy Research Center (DRC). It is fully equipped with space and resources to perform our experiments, including a dedicated tissue culture room and equipment to purify and characterize NK EVs. Animals are housed in the state-of-the-art animal facility in the basement of the DRC.

Publications and Media Placements

Selected Recent Publications

  • Willard PA and Kornbluth J: The ubiquitin ligase NKLAM promotes apoptosis and suppression of cell growth. J. Biol. Chem. 301(6):108527, 2025. PMCID: PMC12148440
  • McCune A and Kornbluth J: NK3.3-derived extracellular vesicles penetrate and selectively kill treatment-resistant tumor cells. Cancers 16: 90, 2024. PMCID: PMC10778188
  • Matchett EC and Kornbluth J: Extracellular vesicles derived from immortalized human natural killer cell line NK3.3 as a novel therapeutic for multiple myeloma. Front. Immunol. 14:1265101, 2023. PMCID: PMC10560732
  • Matchett EM, Ambrose EC, and Kornbluth J. Characterization of uridine-cytidine kinase like-1 nucleoside kinase activity and its role in tumor growth. Biochem. J. 479:1149–1164, 2022. PMCID: PMC9246348
  • Cochran AM and Kornbluth J. Extracellular vesicles from the human natural killer cell line NK3.3 have broad and potent anti-tumor activity. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 9:698639, 2021. PMCID: PMC8343581
  • Lawrence DW, Willard P, Cochran A, Matchett E, and Kornbluth J: Natural Killer Lytic-Associated Molecule (NKLAM): An E3 Ubiquitin Ligase with an Integral Role in Innate Immunity, Front. Physiol. 11:573372, 2020. PMCID: PMC7658342
  • Lawrence DW, Shornick L, and Kornbluth J: Mice deficient in NKLAM have attenuated inflammatory cytokine production in a Sendai virus pneumonia model. PLOS One 14(9): e0222802, 2019. PMCID: PMC5843292

Honors and Awards

  • Lifetime Achievement Award, VA St. Louis Health Care System Research Service (2025)
  • Distinguished Investigator Award (2017)
  • Faculty Innovation Award, Saint Louis University (2013)

Professional Organizations and Associations

  • International Society for Extracellular Vesicles
  • Society for Natural Immunity
  • American Association for Extracellular Vesicles