Inhibition of miR-498 suppressed IL-13-induced GM-CSF, eotaxin, and MUC5AC expression. a The knockdown efficiency of miR-498 in NECs transfected with miR-498 inhibitor (miR-498-inhibitor) or negative control inhibitor (NC-inhibitor) was measured by qRT-PCR. b–d Effects of miR-498 inhibition on IL-13-induced inflammatory cytokine and mucin mRNA expression in cultured NECs. The mRNA expression levels of GM-CSF, eotaxin, and MUC5AC were measured by qRT-PCR. e–g Effects of miR-498 inhibition on the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines and MUC5AC protein in IL-13-stimulated NECs. The protein levels of GM-CSF, eotaxin, and MUC5AC were determined by ELISA (50 ng/mL 24 h for GM-CSF and eotaxin detecting; 10 ng/mL 14 days for MUC5AC detecting). The data represent the mean ± SD from 3 independent experiments. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01. AR, allergic rhinitis; NECs, nasal epithelial cells; IL-13, interleukin-13; GM-CSF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.