IL-1 induces its own gene expression in cultured smooth muscle and endothelial cells and in human PBMC. IL-1-induced IL-1 may be part of a self-amplification or autocrine event in inflammation. In the present study IFN gamma consistently increased LPS-induced IL-1, but reduced the total amount of IL-1-induced IL-1 from PBMC. On a molar basis, IFN gamma and IFN alpha 2 were equally effective. IL-6 also reduced IL-1 induced IL-1 but was approximately 300-fold less potent than the two interferons. The augmentation of LPS-stimulated IL-1 by IFN gamma was observed only when added at the same time as LPS, but IFN gamma could be added several hours after stimulation with IL-1 and still suppress IL-1 production. LPS-induced mRNA for IL-1 beta at 4 hours was enhanced by IFN gamma whereas IL-1-induced IL-1 beta mRNA was reduced by 70% in the presence of IFN gamma and this reduction was not due to increase degradation of IL-1 beta mRNA. These results suggest that in inflammatory tissues where IL-1 self amplification of its own gene expression is part of the pathological process, interferons may act to inhibit this cycle.