The decrease in macrophage-to-feces RCT was associated with a significant reduction in the mRNA expression of genes involved in cholesterol transport and bile acid synthesis, including ABCG5, ABCG8, ABCB11, and CYP7A1, suggesting that one compensatory response to endotoxemia may be to inhibit the excretion of cholesterol out of the body. Here, ABCG8 is linked to serum lipopolysaccharide activity.