Diminished DEFA6 Expression in Paneth Cells Is Associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Figure 4

Relationship between DEFA6 expression and age. (a) Control patients showed higher level of DEFA6 expression and negative correlation between DEFA6 expression and gestational age. Premature controls had the highest DEFA6 level. Most of the NEC patients showed low DEFA6 expression. No correlation could be confirmed between DEFA6 expression and gestational age in the NEC group. (b) The phenomenon above was more pronounced between DEFA6 expression and postconceptional age at surgery (maturation level). corr: 0.03 (NEC group), corr: −0.74 (control group).

(a)

(b)