HUWE1 and miR-98 levels are reduced in lungs of SS mice in vivo and in HEM-treated HPAECs in vitro. (A) Schematic illustration of intronic miR-98 on the host gene HUWE1 on chromosome X. (B-C) Whole lung homogenates were collected from littermate control (AA) and SS mice. Lung HUWE1 mRNA and protein (B) and miR-98 (C) levels were measured with real-time qPCR or western blotting and expressed relative to lung mRNA (9S mRNA), protein (GAPDH), and RNU6B (miRNA). *P < .05 vs AA, n = 5. (D-E) HPAECs were treated with DMSO vehicle (CON) or HEM (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 µM) for 72 hours. Mean HPAEC HUWE1 mRNA and protein (D) and miR-98 (E) levels were measured with real-time qPCR or western blotting. (F-G) HPAECs were treated with DMSO vehicle (CON) or HEM (5 µM) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Mean HPAEC HUWE1 mRNA and protein (F) and miR-98 (G) levels were measured with real-time qPCR or western blotting. Each bar represents the mean HUWE1 and miR-98 level ± SEM relative to GAPDH or RNU6B expressed as fold change vs CON. *P < .05 vs CON, n = 6.