Abstract
A phagocytic uptake of labeled elastase-$aL2-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 $aL2-macroglobulin. It was concluded that these deposits represented phagocytosed $aL2-macroglobulin complexes and that the elimination of complexes from the arthritic joint at least partly was effected via local phagocytosis.