Self-Assembled Lanthanide Antenna Glutathione Sensor for the Study of Immune Cells

The small molecule 8-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydrocyclopenta[de] quinoline-3-carboxylic acid (2b) behaves as a reactive non-fluorescent Michael acceptor, which after reaction with thiols becomes fluorescent, and an efficient Eu3+ antenna, after self-assembling with this cation in water. This behavior makes 2b a highly selective GSH biosensor, which has demonstrated high potential for studies in murine and human cells of the immune system (CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, and B cells) using flow cytometry. GSH can be monitored by the fluorescence of the product of addition to 2b (445 nm) or by the luminescence of Eu3+ (592 nm). 2b was able to capture baseline differences in GSH intracellular levels among murine and human CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, and B cells. We also successfully used 2b to monitor intracellular changes in GSH associated with the metabolic variations governing the induction of CD4(+) naive T cells into regulatory T cells (T-REG).

Automated summary

The compound 2b has been found to be a highly selective GSH biosensor, which can be used in the study of immune system cells. It is capable of emitting fluorescence and luminescence signals, allowing for the monitoring of GSH levels.