STAT3 and inflammatory bowel disease: We assessed the contribution of STAT3 to IBD by examining manifestations of DSS-induced colitis in mice genetically engineered to express only STAT3α, the more pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic of STAT3′s two isoforms, as well as by examining the effects of administration of TTI-101, a small-molecule inhibitor of both isoforms of STAT3.