The concept that IL-1 is produced and is an essential cofactor for T cell proliferative responses to antigens has not been extensively explored with fresh populations of mononuclear cells. Recent studies in the mouse, with an IL-lot cDNA probe and rIL-1 have indicated that IL-1 is produced during monocyte but not dendritic cellmediated, T cell proliferation (1). Furthermore, the activating properties of exogenous rIL-1 may be exerted at the level ofthe dendritic cell rather than the T cell (2).We have studied IL-1 production during the human APCT cell interaction. The human system is advantageous since one has access to monocytes and dendritic cells in blood, as well as a useful group ofanti-IL-1 antibodies and antigen-specific clones . We find that IL-1 can be produced, but may not be essential for secondary T cell responses to antigen-bearing monocytes, and that there are MHC-restricted and nonrestricted pathways whereby T cells can induce IL-1 production by monocytes. Volume 169 March 1989 1121-1136 Materials and Methods Culture Medium. Complete medium was RPMI 1640 (Gibco Laboratories, Grand Island, NY) supplemented with 5 x 10 -5 M 2-ME, 20 hg/ml gentamycin (Gibco Laboratories), and 5-10% FCS (HyClone Laboratories, Logan, UT) or human AB`serum. FCS was used for OKT3 (anti-CD3)-induced T cell proliferative responses while AB`serum was used in all other circumstances .Enrichment of Blood Mononuclear Cells, Monocytes, Dendritic Cells, and T Cells . Whole blood or human leukocyte fractions (New York Blood Center, New York, NY) were layered onto Ficoll Hypaque (Histopaque; Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) and sedimented at 1,000 g for 20 min at 21°C . The mononuclear cells were washed twice in RPMI and studied immediately, or after 1-2 d in culture. Monocytes were enriched by adherence for 90 min at 37°C to plastic. The adherent cells were 55-85% monocytes by cytology and immunolabeling with the anti-CD14 mAb 3C10 (3). This antibody stains a majority (>95%) of blood monocytes and does not stain T cells, B cells, or dendritic cells (3). When highly enriched dendritic cells were required these were separated by a Percoll sedimentation method described elsewhere (4). The dendritic cells were obtained from the high density fraction by a multistep procedure involving depletion of T cells by sheep erythrocyte (E) rosetting, B cells by a density gradient, and residual monocytes by panning on dishes coated with human gamma globulin .