Fig. 7: Overexpression of NQO1 in human SubQ adipocytes elevates mtDNA content and improves mitochondrial function.

a Western blot and densitometry analysis of Nqo1 and Pgc1α protein levels in ad-Control and ad-NQO1 treated primary human subcutaneous adipocytes (n = 3 biological replicate) [Unpaired Student’s t test two-tailed. For Nqo1, p < 0.0001, 95%CI = 18.824–11.90, R squared = 0.9887; for Pgc1α, p = 0.0024, 95%CI = 0.3372–0.7968, R squared = 0.9215]. b–d mtDNA content, mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate, and adipogenesis gene expression of ad-Control and ad-NQO1 treated primary human subcutaneous adipocytes (n = 3 biological replicate) [Unpaired Student’s t test two-tailed. For mtDNA Ad-Control vs. Ad-NQO1, p = 0.0041, 95%CI = 1.119–3.099, R squared = 0.8973; for OCR 1–29 min, Ad-Control vs. Ad-NQO1, two-way ANOVA F (1,4) = 12.83, p = 0.0231, 95%CI = −1.630 to −0.2065].or Pgc1α, p = 0.0024, 95%CI = 0.3372–0.7968, R squared = 0.9215, for C/EBPα Ad-Control vs. Ad-NQO1, p = 0.0221, 95%CI = −1.118 to −0.1497, R squared = 0.7677]. e Schematic view of Parkin regulates adiposity by coordinating mitophagy with mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes. Created with BioRender.com. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. AU = arbitrary units. Oligo = oligomycin, FCCP = trifluoromethoxy carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone, R/A = rotenone/antimycin a. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.