STAT6 and infection: After infection with Schistosoma japonicum, a large number of eggs that release soluble egg antigen (SEA) are deposited in the host liver, which induces cytokines [interleukin (IL)-13, IL-4, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)] production, activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) signaling pathway, and induces polarization of the Th2 immune response (Neill et al., 2010; Du et al., 2016).