Accordingly, differential gene expression (DGE) between the NEC and neonatal macrophages showed a significant increase in proinflammatory molecules, including IL1A, IL1B, IL6, CSF2, CSF3, CXCL8, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL2, CCL20 (associated with recruitment of leukocytes to the sites of inflammation) and signaling molecules such as IRAK2, SOD2, NFKBIZ, and NFKBIA (Fig 2C and 2D, Methods). Here, IL1B is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.