Simvastatin and tBHQ increase γ-globin mRNA and decrease β-globin mRNA in primary human erythroid cells. Human CD34⁺ peripheral blood cells were treated with simvastatin (statin) and tBHQ during in vitro erythroid differentiation. The effects of 5μM tBHQ, 5μM statin, and a combination of statin and tBHQ on gene expression were determined for NQO1 (A), KLF2 (B), γ-globin (C), and β-globin (D). For each gene studied, data are first presented from a single representative experiment at multiple time points during the erythroid phase of differentiation relative to untreated sample on day 7. Data from 3 independent experiments are also presented as the mean AUC for each gene. This data representation allows quantification of the total mRNA from each gene available for translation into protein over the full course of erythroid differentiation. (E) AUC for γ/(γ + β) mRNA. Error bars represent ± SEM. *P < .05 compared with untreated; #P < .05 compared with tBHQ; $P < .05 compared with statin (n = 3).