As shown in representative photomicrographs and summarized in the bar diagram (Figure 1), human NEC was characterized by a significantly higher density of inflammatory monocyte infiltrate (total CD14+ monocyte) than control intestinal tissue (5.5 ± 0.5 cells/HPF in control tissue vs. 42.5 ± 0.4 cells/HPF in NEC; P < 0.001). This evidence concerns the gene CD14 and necrotizing enterocolitis.