TNF and colitis: Compared with DSS group, W. confusa Wc1982 significantly improved the disease phenotypes of colitis mice including decreased DAI and pathological score and reduced colon shortening, decreased colonic IL-17, IL-6, and TNF-α levels and serum lipopolysaccharide (p < 0.05), and downregulated the expression of key genes of IL-17 pathway (Lcn2, Mmp3, Mmp13, Ptgs2; p < 0.05).