Communication circuits operating between activated monocytes/macrophages and adjacent hepatocytes in the liver effect important alterations in hepatocyte function. We demonstrate here that primary human hepatocytes and hepatoma cells are able to function as effector cells in the recruitment of inflammatory cells in hepatic disease and inflammatory states by synthesizing a neutrophil/lymphocyte chemotactic factor, interleukin-8. We have further investigated the possibility that endogenous factors elaborated by activated peripheral blood monocytes and Kupffer cells in the liver are mediators of hepatocyte-derived interleukin-8 expression. Twenty-four-hour conditioned medium from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood monocytes and nonparenchymal human liver cells enriched for Kupffer cells induced a time-dependent increase in interleukin-8 messenger RNA levels in SK-hepatoma cells over a 24-hr period, similar to that seen for tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1 beta induction of interleukin-8 in primary hepatocytes. Exogenously added lipopolysaccharide or recombinant interleukin-6 had no effect. Cell-associated interleukin-8 antigen was present in SK-hepatoma and primary hepatocytes that had been incubated with macrophage-conditioned medium, tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-1 beta. Similarly, neutrophil chemotactic activity was secreted by SK-hepatoma cells, a significant proportion of which could be blocked with interleukin-8--specific antiserum. Preincubation of macrophage-conditioned medium with neutralizing antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1 beta reduced its interleukin-8 messenger RNA-inducing capacity. Exposure of SK-hepatoma to conditioned medium followed by removal of the stimulus resulted in a rapid down-regulation of interleukin-8 messenger RNA to 50% of the maximum level within the first hour. These data suggest that products derived from activated Kupffer cells can modulate hepatoma cells and primary hepatocyte interleukin-8 gene expression. In addition, macrophage/monocyte-derived tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta have major roles in the positive regulatory component of this modulation.