Genetic polymorphisms of toll-like receptor 4 in very low birth weight infants with necrotizing enterocolitis

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disorder of the immature neonates, affecting up to 10 percent of patients treated at neonatal intensive centers. While its pathophysiology is still unclear, data emphasize the importance of disturbed innate immunity, of which Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a central component. Two common functional mutations (SNP) of TLR4 gene (A+896G, C+1196T) have been recently described and been linked to a change of Asp to Gly at site 299 and Thr to Ile at site 399, respectively. Data suggest that these mutations are associated with altered TLR4 function. Obje…