Profile of a Scientist
Dr. James X. Hartmann, Professor of Microbiology, Florida Atlantic
University, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
Professor in the department of Biological Sciences for 20 years.
Taught the courses: Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology,
Virology, Immunology, Cell Culture and Biology of Cancer.
One of the first professors in the U.S., some 20 years ago, to teach a
course solely in Cancer Biology .
Has published papers in the fields of virology, immunology, cancer
biology and cell culture.
Recently, he has fused antibody producing cells with cancer cells to
produce immortal antibody factories.
He has FAU’s first patent on a herpes virus vaccine for fish.
Scientists are trying to figure out how he did it so they can do
the same in humans.
First scientist to fuse plant cells with animal cells.
By James X. Hartman, Ph.D
Florida Atlantic University
Recently, I have developed a keen interest in compounds that stimulate the immune system. Immunologists know that immune cells
constantly communicate with one another and with cells of the brain through the release of immuno-transmitter molecules. The brain can also communicate with the immune system in positive or negative fashion using neurotransmitter molecules.
Some molecules function in stimulating both nerve and immune cells. One immune cell that starts the conversation between your immune fighters is called the macrophage (the original big mac).
This big amoeba-like cell is surrounded by a frilly membraneous lace that traps foreign nasties such as viruses or mutated cancer cells and then it gobbles them up. The Mac then begins digesting its meal down to fragments. It attaches these fragments to carrier molecules that transport the foreign fragment to its body surface and sticks the fragment out into the blood stream.
It sits in the body waving fragments of the foreign nasties at any other immune fighter that swim s along. Along comes a T cytotoxic cell that hates to see such a nasty virus or cancer fragment on the surface of a macrophage. It gives the macrophage a hug, the macrophage
gets all excited and says, "Go and destroy any body cell with this
nasty on its surface."
The macrophage can’t talk verbally so it releases an immunotransmitter molecule called interleukin-1 to get its message across and also presses a number of molecular buttons on the surface of the T cytotoxic to activate its weaponry systems.
I have told you this story of the marauding "Big Mac"
and its fresh recruits in battle against disease because we are
currently studying how Echinacea stimulates macrophages to divide
and become activated.
The American Indian discovered the immunostimulating properties of the purple coneflower plant (Echinacea) long ago. It became known as "The Prarie Doctor".
Echinacea is used in Europe whenever a cold starts in order to lower the severity of the symptoms. We in America are so used to getting antibiotic prescriptions that some of us are just now catching on to the benefits of Echinacea. One of the active ingredients in Echinacea, a non-toxic polysaccharide (sugar molecule) has been isolated by scientists in Germany.
The key question that I have regarding Echinacea is,
"Will it stimulate the immune system of someone who has undergone
chemotherapy for cancer?"
Cancer therapies are toxic drugs that kill any rapidly dividing cell, including the immune cells in blood and tissues and fresh immune recruits waiting deep within the bone marow.
Nearly all chemotherapies cause something called severe bone marrow depression. Thus the cancer patient may have had most of his/her cancer cells killed off but there are few if any immune cells left to seek out and destroy those remaining cancer cells. Worse yet,the cancer cells have by now activated a pump mechanism called P-glycoprotein that makes them resistant to the chemotherapy.
With start-up funds from the Fason Foundation we are going
to study the effects of Echinacea on the regression of breast
cancer in a mouse model during and following chemotherapy.
After hearing the remarkable story of Jana's recovery
from terminal breast cancer we are interested in comparing the
effects of Echinacea alone with what Sam's formula can do.
Much of the side effects and damage to healthy cells that
occurs following chemo results from highly reactive free radicals
produced by the chemo. It can be hypothesized that the mixture
of antioxidants in am's formula can counter the damaging effects of
chemo.
The Echinacea in Sam's formula is recognized in numerous studies
as an immunostimulant. But, there are a number of additional
substances in Sam's formula such as beta carotene, Vitamin E,
Vitamin C and especially Zinc that are known to stimulate the
heck out of the immune system (as well as being antioxidants).
Deprive an animal of Zinc and its immune system is
severely weakened.
So, my graduate student, Ms Dawn Smith (see photo) will be
injecting mice with cancer cells. The mice will be
divided into groups as follows:
-
Group 1: These mice will be given chemo alone.
- Group 2: These mice will receive chemo + Echinacea.
- Group 3: These mice will receive chemo + One Life.
- Group 4: No treatment following cancer cell injection.
- Group 5: These lucky fellows will just get to play and eat.
We have proven that echinacea stimulates macrophages in our
laboratory. It remains to be seen if it works on mice or
humans.
Only time will tell but I am very optomistic.
The results of the study were promising but inconclusive.
Soon we will duplicate the study here.
One must not draw the conclusion that Sam's formula will cure their disease.
There is NO acceptable clinical evidence to support this.
During their five year study there were hundreds of people who wrote letters
claiming their catastrophic disease was helped or cured.
This is NOT acceptable scientific evidence.
The only results which we endorse as true is their statistical evidence
that if one takes the formula three times daily, with an 8 oz. glass of water,
their chance of any new illness will be dramatically reduced by about 90%.
There were no significant side effects to the formula.
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