TLR4 and necrotizing enterocolitis: At the same time, TLR4 signaling in the newborn intestinal mucosa leads to the accumulation of proinflammatory Th17 lymphocytes at the expense of anti-inflammatory regulatory T (Tregs) cells (55-57), which worsen the degree of inflammation and elicit the systemic septic response that is seen in patients with NEC (55, 58).