LBP and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: As shown in the present study, the increased F4/80 positive area, the mRNA expression of CD14 and MyD88, and the levels of LBP, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the liver were accompanied with an increased LPS level in the plasma with HFD feeding, which indicated activation of Kupffer cells in the liver tissue in NASH.