It has been suggested that increased STAT3 signalling may predispose to up regulation of trefoil factor family3 (TFF3) gene expression in intestinal globet cells and protection against IBD [19] and downregulates trefoil factor family-1 (TFF1), a gastric-specific tumour suppressor, predisposing to neoplastic transformation [48]. This evidence concerns the gene TFF1 and inflammatory bowel disease.