Starting from these observations, we investigated STAT3 signaling in CF and non-CF cells evidencing that the TNFα -induced phosphorylation of STAT3 was inhibited by iPA in CFTR-mutated cells whereas in normal cells iPA-mediated activation of STAT3 was reduced in basal conditions but not substantially affected after the treatment with TNFα. Here, CFTR is linked to cystic fibrosis.