Fig. 8: Mito-G reduced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and protected β cells.

A, B INS-1 cells were stained with MitoSOX Red, a mitochondrial superoxide indicator to show mtROS, and the fluorescence intensity of MitoSOX was quantified (n = 3). Scale bar: 20 μm. C–G Representative WB images (C) of apoptosis-related proteins in INS-1 cells and corresponding quantification (D–G). β-Actin served as the loading control (n = 3). H, I Representative flow cytometry profiles (H) and apoptosis ratio (I) of INS-1 cells were shown after dual staining with Annexin V and PI (n = 3). J Representative dithizone staining of isolated primary pancreatic islets. K Representative immunofluorescent staining of Calcein-AM (green) staining, PI (red) staining, and their merge images of live/dead islet β cells from each group. Scale bar: 100 μm. L Cell viability of isolated primary pancreatic islets from each group (n = 3). M TEM images of mitochondria (red arrow) in islet β cells from each group. N, O Representative immunofluorescent staining (N) and corresponding quantification (O) of pancreas sections of mice were performed for Cyt C (red), insulin (green), and DAPI (blue) (n = 3). Scale bar: 100 μm. P Quantification of pancreas sections of mice for Cleaved-Caspase3 (red), insulin (green), and DAPI (blue). Q GSIS for isolated islets from each group (n = 3). R The stimulation index was calculated as a fold change of GSIS for isolated islets from healthy mice or T2DM mice. S The stimulation index was calculated as a fold change of GSIS for INS-1 cells (n = 3). Data are presented as mean values ± SD from different biological replicates. Statistical significance was calculated by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.