In acute pancreatitis, dead pancreatic acini release intracellular damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) including mtDNA, leading to the activation of various inflammatory signaling pathways [such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and inflammasome) and subsequent systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ultimately leading to organ damage in moderate to severe AP (55, 56). The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is systemic inflammatory response syndrome.