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

There
are a number of reports about anticancer activity of indole
derivatives. In this study, we investigated the role of indoxyl sulfate
(IS) for its selective anticancer activity on colon cancer cells.
IS treatment on HCT-116 and HT-29 human epithelial adenocarcinoma
cells led to a decrease in cell proliferation, cell viability, and
ATP content. Colon cancer cells showed a 10% increase in cell apoptosis
in comparison to control. Due to IS treatment, cell morphology got
distorted, cell number found decreased, intracellular vesicles formed,
and cells were found floating in the media. Cells also showed a loss
in membrane integrity and a decrease in colony-forming ability and
ceased at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. No significant change
was noted in the level of inflammatory cytokines IL-17A, IL-1β,
and TNF-α, histology, length of intestine, and spleen after
100 mM IS treatment to balb/c mice. These observations indicate the
selective anticancer effect of IS on colon cancer cells.