THP-1 myelomonocytic leukemia cells cultured with either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) alone produce, at best, only low levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). However, combinations of the two factors resulted in at least 3- to 20-fold greater amounts of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha than would have been predicted by additive mechanisms. This enhanced cytokine production was observed when M-CSF and IFN-gamma were added simultaneously or when M-CSF was added 24 h after addition of IFN-gamma to the cells. Similar results were obtained with fresh human peripheral blood cells treated with IFN-gamma + M-CSF. Cycloheximide treatment of the cultures containing M-CSF and IFN-gamma inhibited the production of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. Northern blotting studies revealed no effect of IFN-gamma alone on IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha mRNA production. IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha mRNA expression was observed at 2 and 6 h after treatment with M-CSF or IFN-gamma + M-CSF. Higher TNF-alpha mRNA expression was observed at 2 and 6 h after treatment with IFN-gamma + M-CSF, and higher IL-1 beta mRNA expression was observed at 2 h after treatment with IFN-gamma + M-CSF compared with mRNA levels observed for cells cultured only with M-CSF. These results suggest that the augmented cytokine production resulting from treatments with combinations of M-CSF and IFN-gamma occurs due to increased cytokine mRNA and increased cytokine protein synthesis. In addition to up-regulating cytokines, combinations of IFN-gamma and M-CSF resulted in augmented cell surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. This was accompanied by morphological and functional changes that included plastic adherence, extensive homotypic aggregation, and a macrophage-like appearance. These phenotypic changes and enhancements in cytokine expression and cell surface molecule expression may be related to activation of monocytic cells to become cytotoxic effectors by M-CSF and IFN-gamma combinations. In vitro cytotoxicity against A-375 melanoma cells was greatest for cultures that contained M-CSF and IFN-gamma in combination.