The intestinal trefoil factor (ITF or TFF3) is known to act as a driving factor of intestinal epithelial repair.1 In a TNBS-induced murine colitis model, TFF3 has been shown to decrease tissue levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) suggesting a therapeutic potential of TFF3 in inflammatory bowel disease.2 Accordingly, TFF3−/− mice have been shown to develop increased intestinal apoptosis. The gene discussed is TFF3; the disease is colitis.