STAT3 and colitis: Stat3 also regulates genes involved in cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, survival and migration[35] and studies in genetically modified mice with impaired Stat3 signaling highlight the integral role of Stat3 in intestinal epithelial cell regeneration.[36], [37] In our study, an upregulation of cell proliferation gene expression in the presence of colonic inflammation was observed (Fig. 4A-C).