Dynamic gut microbiota signatures in scattered crypt IEC apoptosis induced necrotizing enterocolitis in mice

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening inflammatory disorder in premature infants. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) apoptosis contributes to NEC pathogenesis. We report here the establishment of the 3xTg-iAPcIEC (inducible apoptosis in crypt IEC) triple transgenic mouse model for studying how scattered crypt IEC apoptosis progresses to NEC. Using this system, we studied that scattered crypt IEC apoptosis caused gut microbiota signature changes during NEC development in neonatal mice.