Furthermore, there are inverse correlations that trend toward significance between levels of LPS or sCD14 and claudin transcript expression in the descending colon of both HIV+ and healthy control subjects (r = −0.79, p = 0.059 for claudin-4 vs. sCD14; and r = −0.76, p = 0.073 for claudin-2 vs. LPS; Figures 8B and 8C), demonstrating a direct link between TJ gene expression in the distal colon and immune activation in HIV infection. The gene discussed is CLDN4; the disease is HIV infectious disease.