title: Live-cell imaging approaches for the investigation of xenobiotic-induced oxidant stress.
abstract: Oxidant stress is arguably a universal feature in toxicology. Research studies on the role of oxidant stress induced by xenobiotic exposures have typically relied on the identification of damaged biomolecules using a variety of conventional biochemical and molecular techniques. However, there is increasing evidence that low-level exposure to a variety of toxicants dysregulates cellular physiology by interfering with redox-dependent processes.
  
  
  
  The study of events involved in redox toxicology requires methodology capable of detecting transient modifications at relatively low signal strength. This article reviews the advantages of live-cell imaging for redox toxicology studies.
  
  
  
  Toxicological studies with xenobiotics of supra-physiological reactivity require careful consideration when using fluorogenic sensors in order to avoid potential artifacts and false negatives. Fortunately, experiments conducted for the purpose of validating the use of these sensors in toxicological applications often yield unexpected insights into the mechanisms through which xenobiotic exposure induces oxidant stress.
  
  
  
  Live-cell imaging using a new generation of small molecule and genetically encoded fluorophores with excellent sensitivity and specificity affords unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution that is optimal for redox toxicology studies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Air Pollution, edited by Wenjun Ding, Andrew J. Ghio and Weidong Wu.
authors.affiliation: Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wages
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA; Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Wan-Yun
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA; Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gibbs-Flournoy
authors.affiliation: Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. Electronic address: Samet.James@epa.gov.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Samet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D015335:Molecular Probes; D016877:Oxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015262:Xenobiotics
keywords: Fluorescence; Glutathione; Live-cell imaging; Oxidant stress; Reactive oxygen species; Redox potential; Toxicology; Xenobiotic