Recent reports suggest that triptolide triggers apoptosis in IL-10-deficient mice with colitis and in lamina propria mononuclear cells of the gut via IL-6/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/ suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) signaling pathway (Li et al., 2010 ▶; Li et al., 2013 ▶). The gene discussed is SOCS3; the disease is colitis.