This review outlines evidence that IL-1, IL-2, and TNFs modulate neutrophil functions. These cytokines affect some or all of the following functions of the neutrophil: adherence, cell migration, respiratory burst, lysosomal enzyme release, and cell surface receptor expression. TNFs, especially TNF alpha, remains one of the most highly studied cytokine with respect to regulation of neutrophil function. TNFs are a direct stimuli for the neutrophil respiratory burst and weak stimuli of lysosomal enzyme release. The cytokines enhance cell adhesion and inhibit neutrophil migration. The TNFs augment the oxidative burst and lysosomal enzyme release response to a wide range of soluble and particulate cell stimuli. These changes in the cell seem to be closely correlated with the increased fungicidal, bactericidal, tumoricidal, and protozoacidal activity of the TNF-primed neutrophils. In contrast to TNFs, IL-1 and IL-2 inhibit neutrophil adherence, and this provides evidence that the cytokine family represents a regulatory system. Another form of regulation of TNF alpha and IL-1 neutrophil-activating activity is by the release of inhibitors to these cytokines (58). We have evidence which shows that the soluble TNF alpha inhibitor (a cleaved product of the TNF alpha receptor)(59) binds and inhibits TNF from activating and priming neutrophils (60). Priming of neutrophils by TNFs involves surface receptor binding but is independent of protein kinase C system, pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, and direct burst of respiratory activity. The translocation of cell surface receptors and constituents of the NADPH oxidase from stored vesicles may be the major mechanism of TNF-induced cell priming.