Endotoxin (LPS) causes inflammation through the activation of NF-κB via TLR-4. LPS is detected by LPS-binding protein (LBP). LBP presents the LPS to cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14). CD14 then allows LPS to bind to TLR-4 and activate the NF-κB signalling pathway leading to increased release of inflammatory cytokines. NF-κB also increases transcription of MLCK, which decreases the transcription of tight junction proteins, causing the gut barrier to weaken and become leaky.