Human Fetal TNF-α-Cytokine-Producing CD4+ Effector Memory T Cells Promote Intestinal Development and Mediate Inflammation Early in Life

The fetal immune system is considered anti-inflammatory; nonetheless, preterm infants are at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe intestinal inflammatory disease. Schreurs et al. demonstrate that fetal TNF-α+CD4+ T cells promote gut development early in life. However, in preterm babies these TNFα+CD4+ T cells can mediate intestinal inflammation, providing a potential mechanism for NEC.

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