Monochloramine suppresses the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell line Caco-2 by both apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest.

The aim of this study was to assess a possible role of monochloramine (NH2 Cl), one of the reactive chlorine species, which induce oxidative stress, on the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell line Caco-2. At concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 μM, NH2 Cl (14-61% inhibition), but not hypochlorous acid, dose-dependently inhibited the cell viability of Caco-2 cells. Experiments utilizing methionine (a scavenger of NH2 Cl), taurine-chloramine and glutamine-chloramine revealed that only NH2 Cl affects the cancer cell proliferation among reactive chlorine species, with a relative specificity. Furthermore, flow-cytometry experiments showed that the anti-proliferative effect of NH2 Cl is partially attributable to both apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. These results suggest that NH2 Cl has the potential to suppress colorectal cancer cell proliferation.