We have examined the role of retinoic acid (RA), the biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, in expression of the IL-1 beta gene in the human myeloid leukemia cell line THP-1 and in human monocytes. Both protein kinase C-activating phorbol esters, e.g., PMA, and LPS induce IL-1 beta expression in these cells. Physiologic RA concentrations alone were not able to induce any IL-1 beta production, but they strongly enhanced the PMA-induced IL-1 beta protein production and mRNA accumulation in both human monocytes and in THP-1 cells. Nuclear run-off analysis revealed that the enhancing effect was at the transcriptional level. RA also slightly potentiated LPS-induced IL-1 beta expression in THP-1 cells but not in human monocytes. These data suggest that RA can be a strong up-regulator of IL-1 production, but its strength varies depending on the nature of the activating signal.