Our study found that CXCL1 and CXCR2 expression was upregulated to varying degrees in the brain and intestinal tissues of NEC, HIBI, and NEC + HIBI neonatal rats, suggesting that CXCL1/CXCR2 may affect brain injury by delivering intestinal inflammatory mediators through the gut-brain axis. The gene discussed is CXCL1; the disease is necrotizing enterocolitis.