Mouse: Mice divided into groups: dam-fed; NEC induction; NEC induction + anti-IL6R supplement. Cytokine ELISAs and total protein Western blots performed.Human: Blood samples from infants diagnosed with NEC and BW, GA and sex matched control neonates. Tregs and CCR9+ CD4+ T cells isolated. Treg polarization, T cell proliferation and suppression assays performed. RT-PCR performed on total RNA from CCR9+ CD4+ T cells. This evidence concerns the gene CCR9 and necrotizing enterocolitis.