In NASH-V rats, intestinal hyper-permeability (DX-4000-FITC and fecal albumin-based assays) and down-regulated tight-junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) expressions were associated with the decreased intestinal VDR and increased intestinal TNFα, TNFRI, caspase-7, Bax and MLCK levels (Fig 2A–2D). The gene discussed is BAX; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.