Evaluating the Real Time Intracellular Redox Toxicology Using Live Cell Imaging Approaches
Intracellular oxidative stress is a common mechanism of cellular dysregulation as a result of supraphysiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This imbalance in redox homeostasis underlies the response arising from exposure to a wide variety of xenobiotics and environmental agents. Observing oxidative events in real time poses multiple analytical challenges, requiring sensitive and specific methodologies that are capable of detecting transient events with high spatiotemporal resolution. We review here the advantages that live-cell imaging offers as a non-destructive approach that is well suited for redox toxicology studies. The effectiveness of this approach is heavily reliant on the use of fluorescent redox sensitive probes, such as small molecule and genetically encoded probes that report on specific ROS and redox processes. We discuss a variety of small molecule and genetically encoded probes that are used in redox biology, as well as the caveats and limitations posed by their use.