To observe the expression of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and CD14 mRNA in alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) and evaluate the relationship between the expression of LBP and CD14 mRNA and the severity of liver injury in alcoholic-fed rats.Twenty Wistar rats were divided into two groups: ethanol-fed group and control group. Ethanol-fed group were fed ethanol (by intragastric infusion of 500 ml/L ethanol orally, dose of 5~12 g/kg/d) and control group received dextrose instead of ethanol. Rats of both groups were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks, respectively. Levels of endotoxin and alanine transaminase (ALT) in blood were measured, and liver pathology was observed by light and electronic microscopy. Expression of LBP and CD14 mRNA in liver tissues were determined with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.Plasma endotoxin levels were increased significantly in ethanol-fed rats [(129 21) pg/ml and (187 35) pg/ml at 4 weeks and 8 weeks] than in control rats [(48 9) pg/ml and (53 11) pg/ml, respectively, t=11.2, 11.6, P<0.05]. Mean values for plasma ALT levels were increased dramatically in ethanol-fed rats after 4 weeks and 8 weeks [(112 15) U/L and (147 22) U/L, respectively] than in the control animals [(31 12)U/L and (33 9)U/L, respectively, t=5.9, 20.6, P<0.05]. In liver sections from ethanol-fed rats, there was marked pathological changes (steatosis, cell infiltration and necrosis). In the control rats, there was no significant difference in the levels of LBP and CD14 mRNA at the two time points. In ethanol-fed rats, ethanol administration led to a significant increase in LBP and CD14 mRNA levels as compared with the control group (P<0.05).Ethanol administration lead to a significant increase in endotoxin levels of the serum and LBP and CD14 mRNA expression in liver tissues in ethanol- fed rats when compared with the control rats. Increase of LBP and CD14 mRNA expression may result in greater sensitivity to endotoxin and thus lead to liver injury.