A Dietary Mixture of Oxysterols Induces In Vitro Intestinal Inflammation through TLR2/4 Activation: The Protective Effect of Cocoa Bean Shells

Exaggerated Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated immune and inflammatory responses play a role in inflammatory bowel diseases. This report deals with the ability of a mixture of oxysterols widely present in cholesterol-rich foods to induce in vitro intestinal inflammation through TLR up-regulation. The anti-inflammatory action of four cocoa bean shell (CBS) extracts with different polyphenol content, was tested.