CD4 and Cowden disease: To determine the effect of STAT3β deletion and the resultant unopposed action of STAT3α on TNBS-induced CD in mice, we examined mortality, weight-loss, rectal bleeding, colonic bleeding, diarrhea, colon shortening, and apoptosis of CD4+ T-cells in transgenic STAT3α knock-in/STAT3β-deficient (∆β/∆β mice and in wild type littermate cage control (+/+) mice administered TNBS intrarectally (Figure 1).