Uptake of Immunoreactive Leukocyte Elastase-Inhibitor Complexes in Macrophage-Like Cells in Abscesses

Abstract

Leukocyte elastase was demonstrated immunohistochemically not only in PMN-leukocytes in subcutaneous abscesses but also in scattered macrophage-like cells which in addition contained immunoreactive α₁-proteinase inhibitor (α₁PI) and α₂-macroglobulin (α₂M). These cells were located mainly in the marginal region of the abscesses. It is concluded that the intracellular deposits in the macrophage-like cells represent phagocytized elastase and/or elastase-α₁PI and elastase-α₂M complexes. A contributing, local production of the inhibitor is, however, not excluded by the present findings.