TNF and atherosclerosis: To investigate the ability of EPS isolated from Lb. mucosae DPC 6426 and the secretome of Lb. mucosae DPC 6426 to induce macrophage polarization – a key factor in the inflammation-mediated development of atherosclerosis – alterations in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), CD206, IL-6 and IL-10 gene expression were analysed in a murine macrophage cell line.