It should be noted that the role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of NEC in its effects on promoting injury in the small intestine may be quite distinct from the role of TLR4 in other diseases of intestinal inflammation including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, in which TLR4 signaling may play a lesser or perhaps even opposite role. Here, TLR4 is linked to ulcerative colitis.