Heat shock proteins have been implicated as endogenous activators for dendritic cells (DCs). Without tissue distress or death, these intracellular molecules are inaccessible to surface receptor(s) on DCs, possibly to avoid uncontrolled DC activation and breakdown of immunologic tolerance. We herein addressed this hypothesis in transgenic mice by enforcing cell surface expression of gp96, a ubiquitous heat shock protein of the endoplasmic reticulum. Although a pan-specific promoter is used for transgene expression, neither the expression level nor the tissue distribution of the endogenous gp96 was altered by this maneuver. However, cell surface gp96 induced significant DC activations and spontaneous lupus-like autoimmune diseases, even though the development͞ functions of lymphocytic compartments were unaltered. Using a bone marrow chimera approach, we further demonstrated that both DC activation and autoimmunity elicited by cell surface gp96 are dependent on the downstream adaptor protein MyD88 for signaling by Toll͞IL-1 receptor family. Our study not only established the proinflammatory property of cell surface gp96 in vivo, but also suggested a chronic stimulation of DCs by gp96 as a pathway to initiate spontaneous autoimmune diseases.

The fluorophores based on xanthene scaffolds, mainly containing rhodamine and fluorescein dyes, have attracted considerable interest from chemists due to their excellent photophysical properties such as high absorption coefficient, high fluorescence quantum yield, high photostability and relatively long wavelengths of fluorescence emission spectra. In this feature article, we overview the strategies in the development of fluorescent probes that are operating through the modification of the skeletons of fluorescein and rhodamine dyes, and the fluorescent behaviors of these probes toward specific analyte are discussed.

A new chemosensor based on rhodamine B thiohydrazide is described. Chemosensor B was found to show a reversible dual chromo- and fluorogenic response toward Hg2+ in aqueous solution in a highly selective and sensitive manner. This was suggested to result from the coordination of Hg2+ at the N, S binding sites in B to open its spiro ring.

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We report rhodium complexes bearing PAlP pincer ligands with an X-type aluminyl moiety. IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of a carbonyl complex exhibit the considerable σ-donating ability of the aluminyl ligand, whose Lewis acidity is confirmed through coordination of pyridine to the aluminum center. The X-type PAlP-Rh complexes catalyze C2-selective monoalkylation of pyridine with alkenes.