Soybean and/or sodium ascorbate have been demonstrated to have protective effects against carcinogenicity of the nitrosamine precursors dibutylamine and sodium nitrite in rats. Some immunological aspects of the cellular and humoral compartments of the immune system were investigated in this experimental model. The parameters chosen for the study were the lymphocyte transformation test, migration inhibition test, the demonstration of Fc and Fc plus complement receptors on the lymphocyte surface (EA and EAC rosette-forming test), and the determination of total serum proteins and their fractions. The results indicated that dibutylnitrosamine can be formed in vivo from its precursors dibutylamine and sodium nitrite, and that it affects the immune system of rats which showed an immunosuppressed state present as depressed cellular and humoral immunity. The protective role of soybean and/or ascorbate against carcinogenicity of dibutylamine and sodium nitrite was demonstrated by the absence of tumor formation. These agents were found to be capable of increasing the defense mechanism of rats by enhancing both cellular and humoral immunity in the presence of the carcinogenic nitrosamine precursors dibutylamine and sodium nitrite.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AndersonR., OosthuizenR., GatnerE.M.S.: Effect of ascorbate on leucocytes: Part V: Effects of ascorbate and calcium and sodium ascorbate on certain functions of human blood lymphocytes in vitro.S. Afr. Med. J., 56: 511–515, 1979.
2.
BaronD.N.: Plasma proteins. In: A short Textbook of Chemical Pathology.BaronD.N. (Ed.), Chap. 7. The English Language Book Society and Hodder & Stoughton.3rd ed., 1979.
3.
BartschH., OhshimaH., NairJ., PignatelliB., CalmelsS.: Modifiers of endogenous nitrosamine synthesis and metabolism. In: Antimutagenesis and Anticarcinogenesis Mechanisms.ShankelD.M., HartmanP.E., KadaT., HollaenderA. (Eds.), pp. 87–101. Plenum Press, New York, London, 1986.
4.
CameronE., PaulingC., LeibovitzB.: Ascorbic acid and cancer: A review.Cancer Res., 39: 663–681, 1979.
5.
ChessL., MacDermottR.P., SchlossmanS.F.: Immunologic functions of isolated human lymphocyte subpopulations.I. Quantitative isolation of human T and B cells and response to mitogens. J. Immunol., 113: 1113–1121, 1974a.
6.
ChessL., MacDermottR.P., SchlossmanS.F.: Immunologic functions of isolated human lymphocyte subpopulations.II. Antigen triggering of T and B cells in vitro. J. Immunol., 113: 1122–1127, 1974b.
7.
FordW.L.: The preparation and labelling of lymphocytes. In: Handbook of Experimental Immunology. Vol. 2: Cellular Immunology.WeirD.M. (Ed.), Chap. 23. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, 1978.
8.
GouldingN.J., GibneyM.J., GallagherP.J., MorganJ., JonesD.B., TaylorT.H.: The immunological effect of a high intake of soyaprotein in man.J. Pathol, 131: 254–255, 1980.
9.
GrayC.H., HoworthP.J.N.: Plasma proteins and immunoglobulins. In: Clinical Chemical Pathology.GrayC.H., HoworthP.J.N. (Eds.), Chap. 5. The English Language Book Society and Edward Arnold (publishers) Ltd.9th ed., 1980.
10.
GriciuteL.: Carcinogenicity of N-nitrosocompounds and their possible role in the development of human cancer.IARC Scientific Publications, 3: 3–9, 1978.
11.
HudsonL., HayF.C.: Techniques in cellular immunology. In: Practical Immunology.Alexander, and Thomas (Eds.), Chap. 10. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, 2nd ed., 1980.
12.
KohnJ.: Cellulose acetate electrophoresis and immuno-diffusion technique. In: Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques. Vol. II. Zone Electrophoresis.SmithI. (Ed.), Chap. 3. William Heinemann Medical Book Ltd.2nd ed., London, 1968.
13.
KurechiT., KikugawaK., FukudaS., HasunumaM.: Inhibition of N-nitrosamine formation by soya products.J. Food Cosmet. Toxicol., 19: 425–428, 1981.
14.
McLimanW.F., DavisE.V., GloverF.L., RakeG.W.: The submerged culture of mammalian cells.The spinner culture. J. Immunol., 79: 428–433, 1957.
15.
MirvishS.S.: Effects of vitamins C and E on carcinogen formation and action, and relationship to human cancer. In: Antimutagenesis and Anticarcinogenesis Mechanisms.ShankelD.M., HartmanP.E., KadaT., HollaenderA. (Eds.), pp. 83–85. Plenum Press, New York, London, 1986.
16.
MokhtarN.M., El-AaserA.A., El BolkainyM.N., IbrahimH.A., Badr El-DinN., MoharramN.Z.: Effect of soybean feeding on experimental carcinogenesis.III. Carcinogenecity of nitrite and dibutylamine in mice: a histopathological study. Eur. J. Cancer Clin. Oncol., 24: 403–411, 1980.
PeacockJ.E., TomarR.: Assessment of immunologic defenses. In: Manual of Laboratory Immunology.Lea and Febiger (Eds.), Chap. 4. Philadelphia, 1980.
19.
RitzmannS.E., DanielsJ.C.: Serum protein electrophoresis and total serum proteins. In: Serum Protein Abnormalities, Diagnostic and Clinical Aspects.RitzmannS.E., DanielsJ.C. (Eds.), Chap. 1. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1st ed., 1975.
20.
RocklinR.E., MacDermottR.P., ChessL., SchlossmanS.F., DavidJ.R.: Studies on mediator production by highly purified human T and B lymphocytes.J. Exp. Med., 140: 1303–1316, 1974.
21.
SiegelB.V., MortonJ.I.: Vitamin C and the immune response.Experientia, 33: 393–395, 1977.
22.
StitesD.P.: Clinical laboratory methods for detection of cellular immune function. In: Basic and Clinical Immunology.StitesD.P., StoboJ.D., FudenbergH.H., WellsJ.V. (Eds.), Chap. 23. Lange Medical Publications.Los Altos California.4th ed., 1982.
23.
ToroG., AckermannP.G.: Proteins and amino acids. In: Practical Clinical Chemistry.ToroG., AckermannP.G. (Eds.), Chap. 7. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1st ed., 1975.
24.
TrollW., Wiesner, ShellabargerC.J., HoltzmanS., StoneJ.P.: Soybean diet lowers breast tumor incidence in irradiated rats.Carcinogenesis, 1: 469–472, 1980.
WargovichM.J.: Dietary promoters and antipromoters. In: Antimutagenesis and Anticarcinogenesis Mechanisms.ShankelD.M., HartmanP.E., KadaT., HollaenderA. (Eds.), Plenum Press, New York, London, pp. 409–420, 1986.
27.
WittesR.E.: Vitamin C and cancer.N. Engl. J. Med., 312: 178–179, 1985.
28.
YonemotoR.H.: Vitamin C and immune responses in normal controls and cancer patients.Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res., 49: 143–154, 1979.
