Introduction
The purpose of this article is to explain the protomorphogen concept and its complex relationship to both cell growth and immunity. This article also addresses the interrelation between the various organs and glands that provide natural resistance and adaptive immune response.
The body is an immune system in that every cell has immune capabilities even though a specialized system has evolved to carry the primary responsibility of immune response. According to many early scientists, immune response is not the only function of our "immune system". The other primary function is that of regulation of cellular growth and repair from conception through old age. This has not been recognized by traditional medicine.
Evidence for this dual function has been around since the 1930s when Dr. Royal Lee and other scientists began researching cell growth. In numerous lectures and books, Lee explained the complex interrelationships between immune response, normal and abnormal cell growth, and autoimmunity. He formulated supplements of animal derived products that could normalize and heal the immune system and virtually every organ type in the human body, Lee called these supplements protomorphogens (PMGs). The word is derived from the Greek "proto" meaning primary and "morphogen" meaning form or structure of the initial element. PMG references the specific cytotrophic cellular material extracted from the cell nucleus containing the nucleoprotein. The nucleoprotein contains the genetic DNA and RNA which regulates the structural regeneration of the cell. PMGs are not the DNA/RNA- but the chromosome end products made in the cell nucleus and are the agents or blueprints by which the basic functions of the chromosomes are exercised.
Lectures by Dr. Royal Lee, Volume I, page 168.
A protomorphogen is a cell secretion given off by all living cells at all times in minute amounts that promotes the synthesis of protein for cell repair and cell maintenance on the outside of the cell wall, after which it is absorbed by the cell. Protomorphogens are chromosome end products, made in the cell nucleus, probably the agents by which the basic functions of the chromosome are exercised. All living proteins carry a protomorphogen component by which the protein is made specific in nature, specific in causing organic reactions, specific in function, specific in its ability to act as an antigen in provoking immune reactions. All antigens may be antigenic by reason of accompanying protomorphogens, in some cases instead of being attached to a protein molecule, the protomorphogen may be attached to a lipoid or polysaccharide aggregate. When a protein has been separated from a promotomorphogen, it is said to be denatured and is no longer fully capable of antigenic action; that is, cannot create an antibody specific to it in the circumstance of its injection into an animal blood stream.
Since no cell can grow or maintain itself unless protomorphogens, as secreted by itself, are available in the pericellular fluids, it is obvious that here we have the possible biological growth regulator. Suppose that the immune-body producing mechanism, heretofore looked upon only as a defense against invading organisms (cells) from the outside, were to be found to exert the same controlling action on every organ and cell of the body, we would have the answer to the long sought questions of why animal organs and living creatures in general were able to regulate their cell growth exactly according to a well-ordered plan.
We find, on investigation, that there is just such a reaction of the immune body producing mechanism (the reticuloendothelial system) and it has been described under the general designation of "Natural Tissue Antibody" (NTA).
The PMGs formulated by Dr. Lee were not intended to provide nutrients to the body, but rather they were to provide the genetic blueprints to facilitate in reprogramming the particular cell type to produce normal healthy cells. In the manufacture of the PMG, the specific animal organ is "burned" to very high temperatures to get rid of organic materials and isolate the mineral chains that make up the protomorphogen. This ensures that no toxic material remains.
Let us look at how cells divide. All cells divide by the same process whether they are bacterial or human liver cells. They all divide by the same mechanism. If you place bacteria in a petri dish with culture media, the cells will not start dividing immediately. This is called the "lag time." Then the cells start rapidly dividing, tapering off until they stop.
If bacteria are taken from the culture during rapid growth and placed in new cultures, they will then start the process over-lag time, rapid growth, etc. However, if you place some of the old media into the new culture with the bacteria, the organisms will not experience a lag time, but will resume rapid growth.
This phenomenon led Dr. Lee and other scientists to theorize that a substance (heretofore unknown) which regulates growth exists both in the culture and in the bacteria itself. The concentration gradient both inside the cell and outside the cell regulates cell growth.
Dr. Lee termed this substance "protomorphogen". Dr. Lee's theory was derived from (and later verified by) the work of many other scientists working along the same lines. They gave this substance other names:
Lee felt that all of these substances were really different names for the growth factors of the living cells or PMGs. They can be thought of as the blueprints for different cell types. Protomorphogens are in reality mineral chains whose sequencing determine the amino acid (protein) structure of individual cell types. In living tissues these minerals are organically bound and accompanied by enzymes.
Antoine Bechamp was the most notable of scientists working along the same lines as Dr. Lee. Bechamp was a contemporary (and adversary) of Louis Pasteur. Bechamp's theory, later confirmed by other scientists, was that "disease" is not produced primarily by invading bacteria but is actually perpetuated in an unhealthy, unbalanced body by the body's own cells. The cells themselves produce pathogens like bacteria, fungi, and viruses instead of normal healthy cells. The theory also stated that all chronic and infectious illnesses have a microbial component not currently recognized by orthodox medicine. "Non-self" pathogens may provide a template for illness, but healthy individuals do not succumb. The existing toxic internal environment allows the disease to manifest. One does not really "catch" a cold--a cold is produced due to an imbalanced, toxic and malnourished environment.
Bechamp saw what he termed "mycrozymas" in the protoplasm of living cells and considered them to be the fundamental unit of living tissue (Lee's PMGs). Bechamp disputed the "germ theory" and stated that the cause of disease was internal dysfunction not an external invasion. Invading pathogens could only cause illness in an unhealthy body by acting as a template to dividing cells. Pasteur, near the end of his life, confirmed Bechamp's theories; however, traditional medicine was already firmly entrenched in the "germ theory" model.
Royal Rife, a friend of Dr. Lee, believed as did Bechamp in the theory of pleomorphism-the ability of a microorganism to change form in a living system. In other words, bacteria could change into a fungus or virus or vice versa. He also believed that the human body could produce these microorganisms instead of normal healthy cells. Rife invented a very powerful light microscope where he could see them "pleomorph". He also invented a machine called the Rife machine which produced sound frequencies that "burst" specific microorganisms. He was able to see these pathogens, find the "resonant frequency" of the specific organism and produce the sound frequency--thus causing the organism (and it only) to self-destruct. Rife used this machine to "terminate" cancer cells in infected individuals in the middle 1900s. Several books have been written by Barry Lyons about Rife's story, including The Cancer Cure that Worked. Rife was discredited and was finally run out of the country, a destitute man.
Another maverick scientist who agreed with the concept of pleomorphism was Gaston Naessens (1924). He developed the somatoscope in the late 1940s with a resolution of 150 angstroms. With the use of this scope, he identified the PMG (or somatid, or mycrozyma) and actually observed various microbes change forms to other pathogens. He clearly demonstrated the 16 stages of the "somatid cycle," thus affirming that disease is not an issue of external invasion but an issue of weakened immune capacity. (The 16 stages show how single cells can "pleomorph" or change into other different microorganisms.)
As stated earlier, traditional medicine took another path and refused to look at these reputable scientists' evidence. However, they are beginning to research these concepts under the name of Oral Tolerization (without understanding the whole picture of the connection of growth regulation and immunity). Using animal organs to facilitate healing of the same organ is not the same concept of the PMG theory. PMG is the nuclear material that provides the blueprint. However, animal organs provide small amounts of the PGM material and are therefore of some benefit.
Traditional medicine still does not understand how wounds are healed. What stimulates the need for repair? What stops the repair after it has been completed? The cause of the cessation of growth appears to be the formation of antibodies known as NTAs (natural tissue antibodies) which are formed in opposition to the growth of an organ or tissue beyond the needs of the body. The NTAs are a combination of the PMG (the antigen) and an antibody.
NTA = PMG + Antibody > releases histamine
The NTA "tie up" excess PMG, thus preventing growth. However, the histamine that is released can cause damage to the body tissue. Also, it can cause inflammation, or the "autoimmune reaction" observed in disease.
Dr. Lee refined the theories of Bechamp, Rife, Naessens and others and put them to practical use in formulating protomorphogens for virtually every tissue type. These PMGs have the potential to rebuild every organ and gland in the body. The concentration gradient both inside and outside the cell regulates this growth. The "health" of the cell regulates both the concentration gradient and "health" of the protomorphogen. The concentration and health of the protomorphogen also regulates the immune system in forming natural tissue antibodies (NTA). If an excess of PMGs accumulates outside the cell, normal cell division stops, and an excess of autoimmune factor (NTA) can cause damage to the cell. The PMGs in living systems are "wrapped" in lipoid layers because of their potential toxicity to a living system. This is called "hypersensitivity" in immunological terms. The lipoid "wrapping" can be either incomplete or damaged in disease or malnutrition states.
Because of hypersensitivity, Lee chose not to use human genetic material in formulating his supplements - but rather to use animal tissue which would be taken orally. The PMGs are processed to be absorbed through the GI tract intact. The animal kingdom is removed from the human so that hypersensitivity is not a large issue. By providing the genetic material through the PMG, the body is able to "jump start" the healing process and use the blueprints to reprogram healthy cell division. Dr. Lee believed that every disease produced an autoimmune component which through the process of inflammation prevented normal cell division and caused most of the damage. This fact is being recognized by the medical profession more frequently in various illnesses.
Protomorphogens (PMGs) have two major functions:
Our own PMGs inhibit cell division. However, when taken orally in pill form (from other mammals), PMGs stimulate normal cell division and reduce the autoimmune component by reducing excessive amounts of the natural tissue antibodies. They stimulate the organ to regenerate new healthy tissue by supplying the blueprints or by "jump starting" the organ to manufacture more of its own PMG.
PMGs are taken from specific organs of other mammals-cows or pigs. In supplying extracts of the specific organ to the organ that is diseased, we can influence the local nutrient environment of those particular cells. This increases the activity of the tissue which then increases the secretion of PMGs so that the net effect is the concentration of PMG is balanced. The tissue of the organ begins to grow and regenerate normal healthy cells and thus helps to reestablish normal growth patterns with control.
Summary of PMGs
The theory of protomorphogens is fundamentally what stem cell research is about. Dr. Lee gave us a functional way to use stem cell research in the 1930s!
In another article, "Advanced Protomorphology: The Endocrine Masters," I will delve deeper into the regulatory method of the endoreticular system and normal cell growth. The thymus, spleen, and other endocrine glands along with the liver and bone marrow play a major role in the human immune response. Since the endocrine glands are the masters of the human body and they control all the other organs and glands, it can be readily understood the significant role that oral PMG supplementation could supply in immune deficient diseases and in fact any disease. It could be like a liver transplant without surgery!
When you supply the appropriate PMGs plus other vital whole food nutrients, the body begins to heal itself. Surgery, medicines, herbs and nutrients may help but they never in and of themselves heal. No one heals you-your body always effects the healing. This is truly "Healing from the Inside Out."
The regulation and control of the growth and regeneration process is very complicated. All of the endocrine glands are involved-particularly the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, thymus and spleen. In working with any illness, I always seek to facilitate the balancing and rebuilding of these endocrine glands and other organs by the use of PMGs and other whole food supplements.
What a wonderful gift Dr. Lee gave us in the protomorphogens!
References:
By Dr. Sharon Rabb
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