<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001614876</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001746473</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>PLIANT THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-39303</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>260 Littlefield Avenue</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>6504816790</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>JOHANNES P HULL</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>38th Fl.</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>34919</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>659969.10</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>59156444</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>08/03/2023</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>08/03/2023</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10591</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>08/03/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>02/26/2021</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2419</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>02/26/2021</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>07/28/2022</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Performance Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>8830</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>07/28/2022</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>05/26/2021</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>13079</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>05/26/2021</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>08/03/2023</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>04/03/2023</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Johannes Hull</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5077}]
144
0001614876
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001746473
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS INC
001-39303
260 Littlefield Avenue
South San Francisco
CA
94080
6504816790
JOHANNES P HULL
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
38th Fl.
New York
NY
10004
34919
659969.10
59156444
08/03/2023
NASDAQ
Common
08/03/2023
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
10591
08/03/2023
Cash
Common
02/26/2021
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Issuer
N
2419
02/26/2021
Cash
Common
07/28/2022
Performance Stock Units
Issuer
N
8830
07/28/2022
N/A
Common
05/26/2021
Restricted Stock Units
Issuer
N
13079
05/26/2021
N/A
Y
08/03/2023
04/03/2023
/s/ Johannes Hull