We examined the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the chemotactic activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid (SF). Crude RA SF was found to be chemotactic for B cells and T cells. After AcA 54 gel filtration, the principal peaks of chemotactic activity were found in the 5-kd, 16-kd, and 60-kd fractions. The majlority of the chemotactic activity for both the B cells (74-85%) and the T cells (69-78%) was removed from these fractions by treatment with anti-IL-1 antibody. However, in crude SF, approximately 60% of the chemotactic activity for B cells and 40% of that for T cells, was removed, indicating the presence of additional chernotactic factors in RA SF. IL-1 activity, measured by tlhe thymocyte proliferation assay, was demonstrated in RA SF AcA 54 Ultrogel fractions after separation from inhibitors of thymocyte proliferation that are present in crude SF. On chromatofocusing of the 16-kd fraction, the principal peaks of both thymocyte proliferation activity and chemotactic activity were present in