We examined by flow cytometry the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor CD14 molecule on monocytes after addition of LPS to human whole blood. Within 30 min LPS induced an increase in monocyte CD14 expression, peaking between 1 and 3 h and followed by a slow decrease. Maximal increase in anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody binding sites was estimated as twofold the basal value. This effect, already observed with very low concentrations of LPS (10 pg/ml), was dose dependent. Protein synthesis was not involved in the CD14 hyperexpression since it was not influenced by co-incubation with cycloheximide. Finally, LPS-induced up-regulation of monocyte CD14 was associated with an increased binding of fluoresceinated LPS. We conclude that LPS in whole blood up-regulates the expression of its own CD14 receptor on monocytes, a phenomenon that could be relevant to the pathogenesis of gram-negative sepsis.