Infants with NEC displayed elevated levels of nitric oxide (NO) and high cytokine expression levels with pro-inflammatory effects (e.g., Nuclear factor-κB; NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α; TNF-α, interferon; IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β) induced by LPS and produced by the cells of the adaptive immune system in response to colonization by pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus spp., and Clostridium spp). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is necrotizing enterocolitis.