Bromelain is an accelerator of phagocytosis, respiratory burst and killingof candida albicans by human granulocytes and monocytes

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of immuno mod ulating agents like bromelain and trypsin (e.g. Wobenzym(R)) on granulocyte and monocyte functions in healthy volunteers and patients with disorders o f the humoral immuno system X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) and common v ariable immuno deficiency (CVID) and to find out whether the unspecific imm unity could be improved by these enzymes. Methods: In a whole-blood assay kinetics of phagocytosis, respiratory burst and killing (PBK) were measured in blood samples incubated with and withou t bromelain and trypsin (B/T) using Candida albicans as target organism. Th e time-reaction curves were analysed determining their gradient (T1) and th eir onset (T2) as well as the half effect time (HET). Results: Phagocytes from patients with XLA showed a significantly accelerat ed basal phagocytosis (reduction of HET by 24% p<0.001) compared to healthy controls. After incubation with B/T (10<mu>g/ml each) speed of phagocytosi s was nearly doubled (phagocyte activity p<0.0001, Candida uptake p<0.003), T2 of respiratory burst was reduced by 65% (p<0.0001) and killing was acce lerated by 27% (p<0.046). However, the maximal activities of all kinetics w ere not altered. Incubation of phagocytes from healthy controls with B/T ac celerated phagocytosis to a level comparable to that of untreated phagocyte s from patients with XLA and also accelerated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (reduction of HET by 28%, p<0.012). In contrast to phagocytes f rom patients with XLA, phagocytes of patients with CVID showed a similar st imulation by B/T like health controls. Further experiments with the single substances showed that bromelain was the active compound. Conclusion: Our data suggest, that bromelain possesses immuno stimulatory p roperties. Phagocytes of XLA patients appear to be particularly susceptible to this stimulation.