TNF and endothelial dysfunction: Furthermore, treatment with VSL#3, which contains Streptococcus thermophilus, B. longum, B. breve, B. infantis, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. casei, and L. bulgaricus, prevented endothelial dysfunction in a rat model of hypertension through the improvement of vascular oxidative stress and reduction in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1α and MCP-1 in plasma38.