Therefore, we specifically aimed to evaluate: (1) whether HIV-Tg rats are more susceptible to binge alcohol-mediated gut leakiness, as evidenced by increased serum endotoxin, and inflammatory liver damage than their corresponding WT; and (2) to understand the mechanism of upregulation of endotoxin mediators such as TLR4 and MCP-1, which would promote hepatic inflammation and steatosis in the alcohol-exposed HIV-Tg rats. The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is steatosis.