STAT3 and inflammatory bowel disease: [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.