A Novel Role for Necroptosis in the Pathogenesis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Background & Aims: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease of premature infants characterized by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent intestinal inflammation and enterocyte death. Given that necroptosis is a proinflammatory cell death process that is linked to bacterial signaling, we investigated its potential role in NEC, and the mechanisms involved.

Methods: Human and mouse NEC intestine were analyzed for necroptosis gene expression (ie, RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL), and protein activation (phosphorylated RIPK3).