The elimination of alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes from the arthritic joint. A clinical study in rheumatoid arthritis

A phagocytic uptake of labeled elastase-alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes by macrophage-like synovial lining cells was demonstrated in rheumatoid arthritics. The appearance and distribution of these phagocytically active cells were similar to those containing immunoreactive alpha 2-macroglobulin. It was concluded that these deposits represented phagocytosed alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes and that the elimination of complexes from the arthritic joint at least partly was effected via local phagocytosis.