Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by numerous cell types, including cells of the central nervous system (CNS). In the CNS, IL-1 produced by glia is thought to support trophic functions after brain injury. However, little is known about whether the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) is expressed in brain cells and how these receptors might be regulated. Analysis of IL-1R expression in the human glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG indicated the presence of a specific, saturable, and high-affinity (dissociation constant = 104 +/- 14 pM) binding site, which was of moderately high density (1,228 +/- 156 sites/cell). Incubation of U-87 MG cells with cortisol or dexamethasone for as little as 6 h resulted in an upregulation of IL-1R expression, which could be blocked by coincubation with cycloheximide or actinomycin D. IL-1 beta downregulated the expression of its own binding site. Upregulation of the IL-1R by glucocorticoids (GCs) appeared to be coupled to the release of interleukin 6 (IL-6), since IL-1 was significantly more potent in inducing IL-6 release in U-87 cells that were preincubated in the presence of GCs compared with cells incubated in the absence of GCs. These results suggest that IL-1 acts on glial cells via a high-affinity receptor and indicate that GCs may amplify or prolong the actions of IL-1 in the CNS.