[46] Remarkably, in MS, the G allele of the STAT3 SNP rs744166 is the risk allele, whereas in CD, the A allele has been found to increase disease susceptibility. [47] Thus, it is possible that a SNP can confer opposite effects in different disorders within the same pathway. Further genotype-phenotype studies in large patient cohorts of different ethnic origin will therefore be required before final conclusion on the influence of STAT4 on IBD susceptibility can be drawn. Here, STAT4 is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.