We investigated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on primary cultures of human adult oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Under unstimulated conditions, low levels of ICAM-1 immunoreactivity were identified on both oligodendrocytes (less than 50%) and astrocytes (less than 30%). After 48 hours' exposure to immune mediators, such as culture supernatant of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma; 1,000 U/ml), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha; 2,000 U/ml), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha; 1,000 U/ml) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 micrograms/ml), ICAM-1 expression on both cell types was markedly increased in terms of intensity and cell numbers. IFN-gamma and culture supernatant of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes were the most potent inducers of ICAM-1 among the mediators tested, while TNF-alpha, IL-alpha and LPS were less effective, although variations were observed among cultures derived from different donors. Cytokine-induced expression of ICAM-1 on glial cells may play a role in mediating lymphocyte-glial cell interactions at sites of inflammation in the central nervous system.