Indole-3-carbinol inhibits the proliferation of colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells through activation of the apoptotic signaling pathway

Abstract

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a phytochemical that exhibits growth-inhibitory activity against various cancer cells. However, there are limited studies on the effects of I3C on colon cancer cells. In this study, the growth-inhibitory activity of I3C against the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (LoVo) was examined. The results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, colony formation, and cell counting assays revealed that I3C suppressed the proliferation of LoVo cells. Microscopy and wound-healing analyses revealed that I3C affected the morphology and inhibited the migration of LoVo cells, respectively. I3C induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation as evidenced by the results of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated annexin V staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling assay, respectively. Additionally, I3C arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and enhanced the reactive oxygen species levels. Western blotting analysis revealed that treatment with I3C resulted in the activation of apoptotic proteins, such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-9, Bax, Bim, and p53 in LoVo cells. These results indicate that I3C induces apoptosis in LoVo cells by upregulating p53, leading to the activation of Bax and caspases. Taken together, I3C exerts cytotoxic effects on LoVo cells by activating apoptosis.

Organosulfur Compounds in Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Progression

“…Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is an organosulfur compound found in cruciferous vegetables and its antitumorigenic properties against CRC have been well characterized both in vivo and in vitro. Treating a wide variety of CRC cell lines (DLD1, HCT116, HT-29, LS513, RKO, LoVo, and SW480) has confirmed its ability to reduce cancer cell viability and proliferation by inducing apoptosis, although with large IC 50s, at 500 µM at 48 h and 1 mM at 24 h [ 86 , 87 ]. Of more promise is the finding that the I3C derivative 3-(2-bromoethyl)-indole had an IC 50 of only 50 µM at 24 h ( Table 1 ) [ 88 ].…”

Gut Metabolite Indoxyl Sulfate Has Selective Deleterious and Anticancer Effect on Colon Cancer Cells

“…In a previous study, an indole derivative, indole-3-cabinol (I3C), has been well studied using HT-29, HCT-116, and DLD1 cell lines and found decrease in cell viability and accelerated apoptosis as an AHR agonist. 48 Another study 49 showed that I3C can suppress the growth and migration of human colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells. Therefore, our study aimed to understand the anticancer and selective deleterious role of indoxyl sulfate in colon epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and normal colonic cells in mice.…”