IL6 and necrotizing enterocolitis: Moreover, compared to the LPS-induced enterocyte barrier injury of Caco-2 monolayers (E. coli 055), and LPS-fed mice models, Bifidobacterium significantly suppressed the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 and decreased the NEC rate from 88 to 47% (p < 0.05) in controls [157].