The cytokine secreted by a human hybrid B cell line (STS 25) obtained by fusion of the B lymphoblastoid cell line WI-L2-729-HF2 with neoplastic B cells from a patient with B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) was characterized as IL-1 alpha. STS 25 cells express the idiotypic (Id+) immunoglobulin (Ig) specific for the neoplastic B cells of the B-NHL patient. STS 25 cells are weakly positive for surface mu delta kappa and in addition express the surface markers CD19, CD20, CD23, HLA class I and II, and the 4F2 activation antigen. STS 25 cells are also Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen positive but do not secrete viral particles. Serum-free culture supernatant from STS 25 cells (STS 25 SUP) does not show activity in assays for interleukin-2 (IL-2), -4 (IL-4), -6 (IL-6), interferon or tumor necrosis factor, but is active in the thymocyte costimulation assay and the D10.G4.1 T helper clone proliferation assay for interleukin-1 (IL-1). The IL-1 character of the STS 25 SUP activity was confirmed in inhibition studies with three different poly- or monoclonal anti-IL-1 antibodies (31, 88, and 94% inhibition in thymocyte costimulation assay, respectively). Furthermore, complete blocking of D10.G4.1 cell proliferation mediated by STS 25 SUP was observed by including anti-IL-1 alpha specific antibody in the assay, whereas anti-IL-1 beta antibody had no effect. These results indicate that this STS 25 SUP activity can be attributed to the presence of IL-1 alpha in the supernatant. Northern blot analysis of total STS 25 cellular RNA using IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta specific probes revealed the constitutive expression of IL-1 alpha messenger RNA by STS 25 cells. In contrast, no IL-1 beta message was detectable, not even after treatment of the cells with phorbol ester or cycloheximide, which resulted in approximately 5-fold enhancement of IL-1 alpha mRNA expression. Binding studies with radiolabeled recombinant (r) IL-1 alpha indicated the presence of high numbers of IL-1 receptors on STS 25 cells (1,170 per cell, Kd = 392 pM). Although both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta bound to these IL-1 receptors, no indication was found for IL-1 mediated regulation of STS 25 cell growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)