The step-wise logistic regression results, discussed previously, indicated that miR-146a was best for predicting aGVHD incidence; thus, to further understand its role in GVHD, its established targets (TRAF6, IRAK1, STAT1-α and IRF-5) were quantified at the mRNA and protein levels. This evidence concerns the gene IRAK1 and graft versus host disease.