Using a TEMPO-based fluorescent probe for monitoring oxidative stress in living cells

Generation of too many reactive oxygen species (ROS) in relation to available antioxidants in living cells can cause oxidative stress, which is involved in the development and progression of several serious diseases. 2',7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) and its diacetate form, DCFH-DA, are widely used probes for monitoring general oxidative stress in cells, but DCFH oxidation is not always related to ROS. We report here a new method for quantifying cellular oxidative stress using a 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- piperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-based probe. We tested and verified the probe both in cell-free solutions and in living cells under conditions of increased or reduced oxidative stress. The probe revealed the oxidative stress status in living cells and may be a useful complement to DCFH fluorescent probes.