Design and application of a novel "turn-on" fluorescent probe for imaging sulfite in living cells and inflammation models.

Sulfite is one of the main existing forms of sulfur dioxide (SO) in living system, which has been recognized as an endogenous mediator in inflammation. Evidence has accumulated to show that abnormal level of sulfite is associated with many inflammatory diseases, including neurological diseases and cancers. Herein, a novel fluorescent probe named QX-OA was designed and synthesized to detect sulfite.