In contrast, IL-37 was detectable in each of the layers of the intestinal wall we investigated (Fig. 7c), and interestingly, its abundance was differentially affected by NEC: On the one hand, epithelial IL-37 was present in most cells of non-NEC controls and recovered NEC tissue (Fig. 7c, far left and far right, Fig. 7d), whereas epithelial IL-37 was decreased by 51% in NEC-afflicted tissue (Fig. 7c, 3rd from left, Fig. 7d). Here, IL37 is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.