Differences in the synthesis and kinetics of release of interleukin 1 alpha, interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor from human mononuclear cells

Cell-associated and secreted interleukin 1 alpha (IL 1 alpha), IL 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), produced by human mononuclear cells (MNC) in vitro in response to lipopolysaccharide, were measured by radioimmunoassay. After 18 h of incubation, total production of IL 1 alpha in medium containing 1% heat-inactivated serum was two-to-three times higher than IL 1 beta. However, in the presence of 1% serum and 5% fresh plasma, IL 1 alpha and IL 1 beta were produced in similar amounts. Independent of the culture conditions, 90% of the IL 1 alpha remained cell associated whereas 80% of IL 1 beta was extracellular. The kinetics of production and release of IL 1 alpha, beta and TNF-alpha were also studied. IL 1 alpha and TNF-alpha reached maximal levels within 6 h of stimulation, whereas IL 1 beta reached maximal levels between 12 and 16 h. IL 1 alpha remained primarily cell associated (80%) for the first 24 h. After 48 h, extracellular IL 1 alpha exceeded cell-associated levels. IL 1 beta was primarily secreted (80%), appearing in the extracellular fluid within 6 h. TNF-alpha appeared in the extracellular fluid within 1 h of incubation, with less than 10% cell associated at any time during the 48 h of incubation. Although the three cytokines share many biological activities, this study provides evidence that MNC IL 1 alpha is predominantly a cell-associated cytokine acting on a cell-cell basis, whereas IL 1 beta and TNF-alpha are secreted as paracrine mediators.     

Direct and mononuclear cell mediated effects on interleukin 6 production by glioma cells in infection with herpes simplex virus type 1

To clarify the mechanism of interleukin (IL)-6 elevation in the cerebrospinal fluid of viral meningitis and/or encephalitis patients, we investigated how herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1)-infection enhances IL-6 production in human glioma cells (the U373MG and T98G cells). Although human glioma cells did not show enhanced IL-6 production by direct HSV1-infection, the cell-free supernatant from HSV1-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC) culture and lipopolysaccharide, as a positive control, markedly elevated IL-6 production at both mRNA and polypeptide levels. Ultra violet-irradiated HSV1 induced the secretion of the IL-6 inducing factor(s) from MNC, whereas heat-inactivated HSV1 did not show this activity. This finding indicated that the adsorption of virus on the surface of MNC may be sufficient for induction of secretion. The supernatant from the culture of HSV1-stimulated MNC contained detectable amounts of IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, interferon (IFN) gamma and IL-6, and its IL-6-inducing activity was inhibited only by anti-IL-1beta antibodies. Moreover, recombinant IL-1beta markedly enhanced IL-6 production in glioma cells with a concomitant elevation of its mRNA level. Taken together, the results suggest that in HSV1-infection of the CNS, enhancement of IL-6 production in glial cells is mediated not by direct infection to glial cells but rather by IL-1beta released from HSV1-stimulated MNC. These findings may help elucidate the mechanisms underlying cerebro-parenchymal inflammatory progression and repair in herpes simplex encephalitis.     

Production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1, and interferon-gamma by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Since patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have evidence of abnormal function of the immune system, we evaluated production of various cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and monocytes from patients with this disease, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean amounts of production of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF alpha), interleukin 1 beta (IL1 beta), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by PBMCs from patients with PBC tended to be increased in cultures in the presence of stimulating agents in comparison with controls, but there was no significant difference because of a wide scatter of results. Monocytes from PBC patients also tended to produce higher amounts of TNF alpha and IL1 beta than control monocytes did, although the percentage of monocytes in PBMCs was similar in PBC and controls. A significant correlation was found between TNF alpha production and IL1 beta production in PBC patients. The number of TNF alpha or IFN-gamma positive infiltrating mononuclear cells detected by immunohistochemical staining in liver biopsy sections correlated with the production of these cytokines by PBMCs in vitro. However, cytokine production did not correlate with serum biochemical or hepatic histologic findings, except for serum alkaline phosphatase values. In patients with type B chronic active hepatitis, IL1 beta and IFN-gamma production was similar to controls, while TNF alpha production tended to be enhanced. Thus the cytokines studied here may play some role in the pathogenesis of PBC.     

Recombinant C5a enhances interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor release by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes and macrophages.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inducer of interleukin 1 (IL 1) synthesis and release, and of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion. Many signals can enhance the LPS-induced production of these cytokines. We have previously observed that addition of low amounts of normal human serum to the culture medium enhances IL 1 production. Among serum factors, anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a and/or their desArg derivatives have been shown to enhance LPS-induced IL 1 and TNF production. However, the capacity of natural anaphylatoxins to induce by themselves the production of cytokines remains a controversial issue. We have investigated the capacity of human recombinant C5a (hrC5a) to induce IL 1 and TNF production. Despite its lack of direct triggering, hrC5a was able to act synergistically with LPS, leading to higher IL 1 and TNF release by human monocytes and mouse peritoneal macrophages. As assessed by the comitogenic assay, hrC5a increased IL 1 release, whereas cell-associated IL 1 activity was not significantly modified. Measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of human IL 1 beta led to similar conclusions, whereas measurement of IL 1 alpha by radioimmunoassay indicated, in addition, an increase in intracellular IL 1 alpha.     

Production of serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein by HepG2 cells stimulated with combinations of cytokines or monocyte conditioned media: the effects of prednisolone.

The hepatic production of the acute phase proteins in response to inflammatory cytokines, and the interaction of corticosteroids within this response, has been the subject of considerable recent research. In this study we have examined the effects of the corticosteroid prednisolone on the production of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes, and the ability of the monocyte conditioned media (MOCM) obtained under these conditions to induce human hepatoma HepG2 cells to produce serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP). We also examined the production of SAA and CRP by HepG2 cells exposed to different combinations and concentrations of recombinant human (rh) IL-1 alpha, rhIL-1 beta, rhIL-6, recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) and prednisolone. The findings indicate: (i) prednisolone substantially inhibits the production of both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta by LPS-stimulated monocytes. The MOCM from prednisolone-treated monocytes induced less SAA and CRP production by HepG2 cells; (ii) IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta both induced CRP and SAA synthesis by HepG2 cells, but only in the presence of IL-6. IL-1 beta was the more potent inducer for SAA production, but for CRP production IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were equivalent; (iii) prednisolone enhances the production of SAA by HepG2 cells, but does not enhance the production of CRP; (iv) TNF-alpha in the presence or absence of IL-6 and/or prednisolone did not induce the production of SAA or CRP by HepG2 cells. These findings offer a tenable solution to a disparate production of SAA compared with CRP in corticosteroid-treated cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.     

Production and regulation of interleukin 6 in human B lymphoid cells

Human B cell lines were screened for production of interleukin 6 (IL 6) by the B9 hybridoma cell bioassay. Some long-established lines such as RPMI 1788, CESS and recently established early-passage Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid lines were constitutive IL 6 producers. Other long-established lymphoblastoid lines such as RPMI 8866 and SKW6.4 and all Burkitt lymphoma lines tested were nonproducers of IL 6. Constitutive production of IL 6 in early passage lines could be enhanced by the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and recombinant (r)IL 4 but not by rIL 1 alpha or rIL 1 beta. Nonproducing EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines could be induced to IL 6 production by PMA, rIL 1 alpha, IL 1 beta and IL 4. Among the nonproducing lines SKW6.4 was induced to IL 6 production by PMA, rIL 1 alpha, rIL 1 beta and rIL 4, whereas RPMI 8866 was induced only by PMA, to a limited extent by rIL 1 alpha and rIL 1 beta but not at all by rIL 4. There was no induction of IL 6 by any recombinant cytokine in the two Burkitt lymphoma lines but measurable production of IL 6 was induced by PMA in one of them (EB4). Cytokines which were neither enhancers nor inducers of cell lines on their own included rIL 2, rIL 5, interferon (rIFN)-gamma, native purified IFN-alpha, tumor necrosis factor (rTNF)-alpha, rTNF-beta and purified platelet-derived transforming growth factor-beta. rIL 4 synergized with either rIL 1 alpha or rIL 1 beta in the induction of IL 6 in the nonproducing line SKW6.4. Similar effects were also seen in this line with combinations of (a) rIFN-gamma and rIL 4 and (b) IFN-alpha and both rIL 1 alpha and rIL 1 beta. rIL 4, with or without rIL 1, was more effective than rIL 6 in the induction of IgM synthesis in SKW6.4 and the effect was only partially inhibited by anti-IL 6 antiserum at a dose which totally inhibited IL 6-induced IgM production. Normal peripheral blood lymphocyte populations pre-activated by anti-immunoglobulin rosetting exhibited enhanced production of IL 6 in the presence of rIL 4 and PMA but not in the presence of rIL 1, in contrast to the behavior of adherent mononuclear blood cells which showed IL 4-induced down-regulation of IL 6 production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

In vitro production of IL 1 beta, IL 1 alpha, TNF and IL2 in healthy subjects: distribution, effect of cyclooxygenase inhibition and evidence of independent gene regulation

Numerous studies have reported altered in vitro cytokine production in various diseases. In the present study we used specific immunoassays to quantitate production of interleukin 1 beta (IL 1 beta), IL 1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL 2 from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The distribution of cell-associated and secreted cytokines was studied in PBMC of 21 individuals; in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) the proportion of cell-associated IL 1 beta ranged from 13% to 56%, for IL 1 alpha 29% to 98%, and for TNF 2% to 17%. In a larger cohort of 32 subjects, the total amount of immunoreactive cytokines produced in response to LPS or phytohemagglutinin was normally distributed within the study group. Mean production of IL 1 alpha in response to LPS was 10.1 ng/ml and exceeded production of IL 1 beta (5.6 ng/ml) and TNF (2.2 ng/ml). The distribution pattern was characterized by high intersubject variability extending over two orders of magnitude and the presence of high and low "producers". Production of IL 1 alpha and IL 1 beta correlated (R = 0.69). In contrast, production of IL 1 beta did not correlate with production of TNF or IL 2. Indomethacin present during stimulation of PBMC increased the amount of IL 1 beta produced and showed a high correlation (R = 0.83) compared to cultures without indomethacin. Thus, low production of IL 1 beta in certain subjects appears not to be due to inhibitable levels of cyclooxygenase products. In a retrospective study, PBMC from 12 subjects who had taken oral cyclooxygenase inhibitors during the preceding 7 days produced 43% more IL 1 beta than subjects who did not take these drugs (p less than 0.05). These studies demonstrate that the amount of cytokine synthesized by PBMC (a) is regulated independently for IL 1, TNF and IL 2; (b) correlates for IL 1 beta and IL 1 alpha; (c) is intrinsic for low and high "producers", and (d) production of IL 1 beta increases with the use of oral cyclooxygenase inhibitors.     

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3-mediated suppression of T lymphocyte functions and failure of T cell-activating cytokines to restore proliferation.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. The present study was undertaken to determine if this is caused by a direct effect on the lymphocytes, and to evaluate to what degree this suppression may be restored by the addition of cytokines. 1,25-(OH)2D3, > or = 10(-10) M, significantly inhibited the proliferation of pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-driven human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC). Depletion of monocytes did not alter the response to 1,25-(OH)2D3. The antiproliferative effect was preceded by decreased production of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and lymphotoxin (LT), both of which are crucially involved in T cell activation. However, the suppressive effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3, seen in MNC cultures stimulated with PWM alone, was of the same magnitude as the effect seen in MNC cultures stimulated with a combination of PWM and recombinant (r)IL-1 alpha, rIL-6, recombinant tumour necrosis factor (rTNF) alpha, rIL-2 or rLT, as well as PWM plus conditioned medium. Although pretreatment of monocytes for 2 h with 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused significant reduction in the release of IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha, reconstitution of monocyte-depleted cultures with similarly treated monocytes had no inhibitory effect on the proliferative response. In conclusion, even though it cannot be excluded that a low but critical number of monocytes are essential for the suppressive effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3-mediated inhibition of MNC proliferation, the inhibition is most likely the result of a direct effect on the lymphocytes and independent of monocytes and exogenously added cytokines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nerve growth factor specifically induces human IgG4 production

The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on human IgG4 production was studied. NGF specifically enhanced IgG4 production in cultures of human tonsillar mononuclear cells without affecting production of other isotypes or other IgG subclasses. Optimal enhancement of IgG4 production by NGF required the presence of T cells. However, NGF induced significant IgG4 production by small resting B cells in the absence of T cells, and this production was enhanced by stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC). In contrast to small B cells, large activated B cells produced IgG4 spontaneously; this production was enhanced by NGF. NGF also enhanced IgM and IgA production by large B cells, while production of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgE was not affected. The enhancement of IgG4 production was blocked by anti-NGF serum but not by control serum. NGF, T cells and SAC, separately or together, failed to induce IgG4 production by surface (sIgG4+)-depleted B cells. In contrast to NGF, other recombinant human cytokines including interleukin (IL) 1 beta, IL 2, IL 4, IL 5, IL 6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon alpha and gamma failed to induce IgG4 production. These results suggest that NGF directly and preferentially stimulates activated sIgG4+ B cells to produce IgG4.     

Human T cell-replacing factor(s): a comparison of recombinant and purified human B cell growth and differentiation factors

Conditioned medium from phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells contains T cell-replacing factor(s) (TRF) able to restore specific antibody responses by human blood or tonsillar B cells which have been thoroughly depleted of T cells. Of twelve recombinant cytokines tested as possible candidates for TRF in conditioned media, namely human recombinant interleukin (hrIL) 1 alpha and beta, hrIL2, hrIL3, hrIL4, hrIL5, hrIL6, hrIFN-alpha and -gamma, hr granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hrGM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor (hr TNF)-alpha and -beta only IL2 was found to have TRF activity. In addition, a semi-purified low molecular weight B cell growth factor (BCGFlow) also had TRF activity. As the commercially available BCGFlow is known to contain low concentrations of IL2, IFN-gamma, TNF and GM-CSF as impurities, it was important to exclude these as being responsible for the TRF activity. At the concentrations present in BCGFlow (less than 0.2 U/ml), IL2 was not active in the TRF assay. In contrast, a combination of IL2 (0.2 U/ml), IFN-gamma (50 U/ml), TNF-alpha (50 U/ml) and TNF-beta (100 U/ml) did have TRF activity suggesting that B cells could be made to respond to low doses of IL2 by the presence of other cytokines. Although this finding raises important questions about the nature of TRF in conditioned medium, the TRF activity of BCGFlow was unlikely to be due to such a synergistic combination of cytokines for the following reasons. First, in several experiments, responses were obtained with BCGFlow, but not with IL2 or combinations of IL2 with IFN and TNF. Second, antibody to IL2 was found to inhibit the TRF activity of IL2 but not of BCGFlow. Taken together these findings show that two distinct cytokines (IL2 and BCGFlow) are TRF for human B cells. However, some combinations of cytokines can also have TRF activity underlining the complexities which can arise from working with semi-purified rather than recombinant factors.     

Dissociation between plasma and monocyte-associated cytokines during sepsis

We report our investigations of circulating interleukin (IL) 1 beta, IL 6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, as well as cell-associated IL 1 alpha, IL 1 beta and TNF-alpha in plasma and monocytes of 21 patients with sepsis syndrome and 6 patients with non-septic shock. Longitudinal studies reveal that (a) the most frequent detectable plasma cytokines were TNF-alpha and IL 6, (b) the presence and the kinetics of circulating cytokines were independent of one other, (c) detectable levels of cytokines could be found for a long period of time, and (d) significantly higher levels of IL 6 were found for non-surviving patients. Because of the in vivo half-life of cytokines and of the existence of numerous specific high-affinity receptors, it is quite probable that detectable plasma cytokines represent the excess of produced mediators which have not been trapped by the target cells. TNF-alpha (410 +/- 65 pg/10(6) monocytes) and IL 1 beta (153 +/- 60 pg/10(6) monocytes) were frequently found associated to monocyte lysates (88% and 50%, respectively). Despite the fact that IL 1 alpha is the most abundant cytokine found associated to monocytes following in vitro activation, IL 1 alpha was rarely found in monocytes of intensive care unit patients (29%). No correlation was found to exist between the levels of plasma cytokines and cell-associated cytokines. Some patients had plasma TNF-alpha or IL 1 beta in the absence of the corresponding monocyte-associated cytokine. This observation suggests that cells other than monocytes can participate in the production of circulating cytokines. At the end of the longitudinal study (day 14 +/- 2), only 2/12 surviving patients still had plasma TNF-alpha, whereas 8/12 had monocyte-associated TNF-alpha. These results indicate that activation of monocytes still occurs in patients for whom no plasma cytokines can be detected. Thus, in addition to the measurement of plasma cytokine, measurement of cell-associated cytokine appears useful to assess cytokine production and monocyte activation in vivo.     

Interleukin 1 and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha synergize with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to enhance histamine synthesis in hematopoietic cells: role of prostaglandin E2

Previously, we have shown that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulates histamine synthesis by normal murine hematopoietic cells. Addition of either interleukin (IL) 1 (alpha or beta) or murine recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha to murine recombinant GM-CSF (at optimal or suboptimal concentrations) enhances its activity on bone marrow histamine synthesis up to 70%. Evidence is provided that these synergies between GM-CSF and IL 1 or TNF-alpha are mediated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production since (a) GM-CSF together with either IL 1 or TNF-alpha stimulates PGE2 synthesis by bone marrow cells, while none of these factors does it alone; (b) exogenous PGE2 (ranging from 10(-6) M to 10(-10) M) potentiates GM-CSF-induced histamine synthesis in a dose-dependent manner; and (c) indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, completely abrogates the synergistic action of IL 1 and TNF-alpha on GM-CSF-induced histamine generation. Conversely, histamine synthesis promoted by IL 3, the unique cytokine sharing this property with GM-CSF, cannot be modulated by IL 1, TNF-alpha or PGE2, suggesting two distinct mechanisms for the induction of this biological activity in hematopoietic progenitor cells.     

Interleukin-18 induces production of proinflammatory cytokines in mice: no intermediate role for the cytokines of the tumor necrosis factor family and interleukin-1beta

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is not only a co-stimulus for the induction of interferon-gamma but also has direct proinflammatory effects by inducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1, IL-8 and IL-6. However, the cascade of events leading to induction of cytokines by IL-18 is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether murine IL-18 stimulates production of proinflammatory cytokines, and to assess whether induction of second-wave cytokines such as IL-6 by IL-18 is driven by intermediary induction of endogenous cytokines of the TNF family or IL-1beta. When mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated in vitro with recombinant murine IL-18, there was a dose-dependent induction of TNF, IL-1alpha, and IL-1beta. IL-6 synthesis was also strongly induced by IL-18 and, as revealed by studies in knockout mice, this production was not dependent on interactions between endogenous cytokines of the TNF/TNF receptor family: TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin-alpha, Fas/Fas ligand (L) or CD40/CD40L. Moreover, the induction of IL-6 was also independent of endogenous IL-1beta, as macrophages isolated from IL-1beta deficient mice produced normal amounts of IL-6 after stimulation with IL-18. In conclusion, murine IL-18 has pleiotropic proinflammatory activities by inducing production of TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, which could have important consequences for the pathophysiology of infectious and autoimmune diseases.     

Differential effects of interleukin-1 and formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine on chemotaxis and human endothelium adhesivity for A549 tumor cells

We investigated the effects of formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), interleukin-1 alpha (IL1 alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL1 beta) on tumor cell chemotaxis and tumor cell/endothelial cell adhesion. Chemotaxis of A549 human lung carcinoma cells was measured as the number of tumor cells which migrated across a nitrocellulose filter in a Boyden chamber. Tumor cell/endothelial cell adhesion was measured as the number of 125IUdR tumor cells adherent to monolayers of endothelial cells. Confluent monolayers of human umbilical endothelial cells were incubated from 10 to 240 minutes with FMLP, monocyte-derived interleukin-1, or recombinant IL1 alpha or IL1 beta. The endothelial cells were washed and then incubated with 125IUdR-tumor cells. Thirty minutes later the number of adherent tumor cells was assessed isotopically. Our results demonstrate that (a) interleukin-1 but not FMLP, has chemotactic activity for tumor cells, and (b) both FMLP and interleukin-1 enhance tumor cell adhesion to the endothelium independent of any chemotactic activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IL1 alpha and IL1 beta have different effects on tumor cell/endothelial cell adhesion, and raise the possibility that IL1 alpha but not IL1 beta is continuously synthesized and stored within the endothelium. We postulate that IL1 alpha and IL1 beta influence tumor cell/endothelial cell adhesion independent of chemotaxis through the expression of adhesive receptors on the endothelial cell surface.     

Role of interleukin 1 in mycoplasma mitogen-induced proliferation of human T cells

Recently, a mitogenic effect of the supernatant of cultured mycoplasma arthritidis (MAS) on human and murine lymphocytes has been described. Here, we studied the role of accessory cells (AC) in MAS-induced T cell proliferation in a system of human leukocytes. Nylon-wool purified T cells were non-responsive to MAS with regard to both proliferation and IFN-gamma production. The capacity of T lymphocytes to respond to MAS could be restored when viable AC were added. Treatment of AC with UV light resulted in a cell population which was incapable of reconstituting T cells. Addition of human recombinant interleukin 1 alpha (IL 1 alpha) or IL 1 beta again showed a reconstituting effect. However, only a partial reconstitution of the T cell response could be achieved by addition of recombinant IL 1 alpha or IL 1 beta. The optimal restoration was achieved by adding IL 1 at a concentration of 100 U/ml IL 1 alpha or 100 U/ml IL 1 beta. The results indicate that metabolically active AC were required for MAS-induced T cell proliferation to occur and that IL 1 was able to substitute for the role of AC. Since this restoration was only partial, it remains to be determined whether factors others than IL 1 are required to fully substitute the role of accessory cells.     

Neutrophil stimulation by recombinant cytokines and a factor produced by IL-1-treated human synovial cell cultures.

Neutrophil accumulation and activation are early events in the inflammatory response in vivo. Using human recombinant forms of the putative inflammatory mediators interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha) we were unable to detect direct effects on human neutrophil locomotion or intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in vitro. Human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was able to stimulate significant locomotion, but was unable to elevate neutrophil [Ca2+]i. In contrast, supernatant from cultured human synovial cells that had been treated with human recombinant IL-1 alpha (28 pM) released a factor that stimulated both neutrophil locomotion and elevated neutrophil [Ca2+]i. Our studies demonstrate that the production of this factor is time-dependent, requiring exposure of the synovial cells to IL-1 for more than 4 hr, is not influenced by cyclo-oxygenase or lipo-oxygenase inhibition, but can be abolished by dexamethasone (100 nM) or actinomycin D (0.8 microM). The factor has a molecular weight above 10,000 and does not cross-react with anti-C5a antisera. IL-1 beta and TNF alpha were also able to stimulate its production. Our findings suggest that the neutrophil accumulation that is known to occur in response to IL-1 in vivo may be a consequence of the local production of such a factor.