Figure 4A–C depicts the results of the primary cell isolations from fetal and NEC enterocytes. When stimulated with IL-1β (10 μg), IL-8 mRNA and protein from NEC cells was significantly higher than fetal cells (p<0.001) (Figure 4A). TLR-2 mRNA was also significantly greater in NEC than fetal cells (p<0.001) (Figure 4B) In contrast, A-20/TOLLIP mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in NEC vs. fetal cells (p<0.01). Here, TOLLIP is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.