In preterm infants, heightened expression of TLR4 in the intestinal epithelium triggers upregulation of the lymphocyte chemoattractant CCL25, leading to the recruitment of naive T cells to the intestinal lamina propria.92 This environment, characterized by elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-22, facilitates the differentiation of T cells into Th17 cells, which is crucial for NEC development. The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is necrotizing enterocolitis.