TNF and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: In our present study, we found that L. plantarum ATCC 14917 can significantly reduce the levels of LPS and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in the serum of NAFLD rats, and downregulate the mRNA expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the liver.