THP-1 is an acute monocytic leukemia cell line which acquires phenotypic and functional monocytoid-like features following incubation with mezerein. The current study concerned the modulation of these features by rIFN gamma. rIFN gamma induces the time-dependent enhancement of HLA-DR expression in the presence or absence of mezerein but has no effect on the expression of Leu-M1, Leu-M2, or Leu-M3 antigens. CSF-1 production following mezerein activation was reduced by incubation in the presence of 10(3) and 10(4) units/ml rIFN gamma. This was confirmed through both biological assays with mouse bone marrow cells and an indirect ELISA. In contrast, the concentration of growth inhibitory activity in conditioned medium was increased by rIFN gamma. A small but significant increase in IL-1 beta concentration in conditioned medium was detected using a sensitive double-antibody ELISA and a radioimmunoassay. The results infer that the functional characteristics of this leukemia cell line are modulated by rIFN gamma in a manner qualitatively similar to that reported for IFN gamma treated normal monocytes.