Supplemental Digital Content 1 Supplemental Digital Content 2

Supplemental Digital Content 3 Supplemental Digital Content 4

Supplemental Digital Content 5 Supplemental Digital Content 6

Supplemental Digital Content 7 Supplemental Digital Content 8

Supplemental Digital Content 9 Supplemental Digital Content 10

Supplemental Digital Content 11

Supplemental Digital Content 12

Supplemental Digital Content 13 Supplemental Digital Content 14

SDC 1-10: Illustrates the GJ function altered in response to exposure to various LPS concentrations. The parachute dye-coupling assay was performed on high-density cells that were (SDC 1) untreated (control group) or exposed to LPS at (SDC 2) 10 ng/mL, (SDC 3) 50 ng/mL, (SDC 4) 100 ng/mL, (SDC 5) 500 ng/mL, and (SDC 6) 1000 ng/mL, (SDC 7) retinoic acid at 10 mol, (SDC 8) oleamide at 25µM, (SDC 9) oleamide at 25µM + LPS at 100 ng/mL, and (SDC 10) retinoic acid at 10 µM + LPS at 100ng/mL. Dye transmission was observed by fluorescent microscope, 200× magnification

SDC 11: Illustrates that LPS inhibited the expression of Connexin43 in NRK52E cells. Cells at high

density were either (a) untreated (control group) or treated with LPS at (b) 10 ng/mL or (c) 100 ng/mL and Cx43 protein expression detected by Western blot.

SDC 12-14: Illustrates the LPS-induced changes in pathobiological features of NRK52E cells. Electron microscopy analysis of (a) untreated NRK52E cells appeared as regularly-shaped globular structures with normal polarity, plentiful organelles, and integrated cell membranes having plenty of microvilli structures on the surface. (b) NRK52E cells treated with 100 ng/mL LPS appeared as irregularly-shaped globular structures with less integrated cell membrane, fewer organelles, microvilli, and connective structures, such as gap junctions. (c) NRK52E cells treated with 1000 ng/mL LPS showed cytoplasmic and karyoplasmic swelling and a remarkable absence of microvilli.

Supplemental Digital Content Figure Legends