Fig. 1

NQO1 overexpression attenuated renal interstitial fibrosis and renal function in db/db mice. A–C The effect of AAV-NQO1 on the expression of NQO1 in db/db mice was measured by western blotting (n = 6), RT-qPCR (n = 6) and immunohistochemical staining (scale bar, 50 μm, n = 9). C Kidney sections were stained with periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) and Masson trichrome (Masson) (scale bar, 50 μm, n = 9), and mesangial expansion and fibrotic areas were measured. Changes in D blood glucose concentrations (n = 8), E UACR and F BUN were measured in the different groups (n = 6). G The kidneys of db/db mice in the db/db + AAV-Control group (n = 8) and db/db + AAV-NQO1 group (n = 8) were injected with 50 μL of 1 × 10¹¹ infective units of AAV-Control or AAV-NQO1 at three sites. NQO1: NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1, AAV: adeno-associated virus, RT-qPCR: reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, UACR: urine albumin/creatinine ratio BUN: blood urea nitrogen. Values are expressed as the mean ± SD. **P < 0.01 versus the db/m group; ^##P < 0.01 versus the db/db + AAV-Control group