Oral administration of TGF-β1 in a neonatal rat NEC model increased SMAD family member 2 (Smad2) activation/phosphorylation, reduced the number of phosphorylated NFκβ positive intestinal epithelial cells and prevented a NEC induced decrease of the NFκβ regulator IκBα [64]. This evidence concerns the gene SMAD2 and necrotizing enterocolitis.