Functional enrichment analyses yielded major clusters for transcripts increased in ICD, including “collagen/extracellular matrix(ECM)”, “ECM-receptor interaction/PI3K-AKT signaling,” “inflammatory bowel disease”, and “Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.” Upstream regulator analysis revealed well-known inflammatory regulators interferon gamma (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 beta (IL1β), and interferon alpha (IFNα) as highly significant (− log(p-value) > 30) in ICD animals relative to controls. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and inflammatory bowel disease.