GPT and serum lipopolysaccharide activity: These reports are consistent with our observations that there were significant increases in hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines and ER stress markers (Fig. 2D–F) as well as plasma AST and ALT (Fig. 2G) in DSS-treated mice, which demonstrates that DSS-induced loss of intestinal barrier integrity with increased permeability results in LPS-related endotoxemia, causing chronic hepatic inflammation and damage.