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.
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001345:Autoradiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000378:metabolism; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase