The synovial fluid (SF) of RA patients contains large amounts of PMN which are well equipped with neutral enzymes to degrade articular cartilage: elastase and cathepsin G, which both destroy proteoglycans and native collagen, as well as 2 types of collagenoases. Indirect evidence suggests that PMN might be important in the destruction of RA articular cartilage. In 19 SF of RA patients no free elastase or collagenase was found. Using immune histochemical methods, we observed that PMN and macrophages of SF contain both elastase and alpha 1-anti-trypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin. Peripheral PMN - but not monocytes - contain elastase, however both types of cells lack alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin. Elastase is demonstratable in the superficial layer of pannus free RA articular cartilage. These findings suggest that neutral proteinases from PMN in RA SF are generally neutralized by physiologic inhibitors and removed by phagocytes. The enzyme-inhibitor interaction might be bypassed during "frustrated phagocytosis" so that enzymes like PMN elastase can damage RA articular cartilage.