In addition, in a mouse NEC model, enteral HB-EGF increased the small intestinal mRNA levels of integrin subunits α5 and β1 (but not integrin subunits α1, α2, α3 or α6) and the protein concentrations of integrin subunits α5 and β1 that were reduced by the NEC inducing protocol [61]. This evidence concerns the gene EGF and necrotizing enterocolitis.