They used mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) siRNA and STAT3 siRNA to knockdown mTOR and STAT3, respectively, in intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) models and found that the mRNA and protein expressions of RegIIIγ and β-defensins were prominently impaired in these IECs, thus indicating that butyrate could active mTOR and STAT3 to promote AMP synthesis and confer resistance to colitis. The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is colitis.