NSAID and Gluten Sensitivity Figure 3. Apical epithelial cell structural abnormalities. Epithelial ultra-structure was assessed by electron microscopy. A significant proportion of altered TJ was observed in gluten-sensitized plus indomethacin-treated mice. Indomethacin alone also increased the proportion of altered TJ but to a lesser extent than indomethacin plus gluten. Gluten sensitization alone tended to increase the proportion of altered TJ but this did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.09 vs non-sensitized controls). Data represent the means6SEM of 5 mice/group. Representative pictures of (A–B) a control mouse, arrow: tight junction (TJ) with preserved structure; (C) Gluten-sensitized mouse, arrow: TJ with preserved structure; (D) Indomethacin-treated mouse showing one altered TJ (arrowhead) and 2 junctions with normal struture (arrows); (E–G) Gluten plus indometacin treated mouse; (E) arrowhead: microvilli (mv) height reduction, arrow: apical epithelial cell destruction; (F) Altered TJ, arrow: mitochondria (m) with disrupted cristae; (G) Several altered TJs. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006472.g003 Figure 4. RNA level of E-cadherin relative to control (non-sensitized). Real-time QPCR experiments were performed on jejunum collected from all groups 24 hours after the last gluten challenge. Gluten-sensitized and indomethacin alone-treated mice showed a trend for decreased expression of E-cadherin relative to non-sensitized controls. Gluten-sensitized plus indomethacin-treated mice showed marked down-regulation of E- cadherin RNA level relative to non-sensitized controls. Data represent the means6SEM of 6 mice/group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006472.g004 PLoS ONE | www.plosone.org 4 July 2009 | Volume 4 | Issue 7 | e6472