We examined expression and cytotoxic triggering capability of the three Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma R) on human monocytes, PMNs and myeloid cell lines after in vitro culture with various cytokines. Fc gamma R expression was evaluated using specific anti-Fc gamma R monoclonal antibodies (mAb). The cytotoxic capability of each Fc gamma R was examined after the effector cells were treated with the recombinant cytokines IFN-gamma. TNF alpha, GM-CSF, G-CSF, M-CSF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, or IL-6. Hybridoma cell lines (HC) bearing antibody directed to Fc gamma RI (HC 32), Fc gamma RII (HC IV.3) or Fc gamma RIII (HC 3G8) were used as targets, as were chicken erythrocytes (CE) sensitized with heteroantibodies composed of anti-Fc gamma R mAbs (32, IV.3, 3G8) linked to anti-CE antibody. Only IFN-gamma treatment significantly increased Fc gamma R expression and then only Fc gamma RI. IFN-gamma dramatically up-regulated Fc gamma RI expression on all cells tested. However, ADCC was enhanced by treatment with a number of cytokines other than IFN-gamma. GM-CSF, TNF, and IFN-gamma treatment enhanced killing of HC 32 and HC IV.3 by in vitro cultured monocytes. G-CSF treatment enabled PMNs to kill HC through Fc gamma RII, whereas PMN killing of HC through Fc gamma RIII could not be induced by any of the cytokines studied. Although only IFN-gamma treatment increased ADCC of CE by monocytes, GM-CSF treatment as well as IFN-gamma treatment augmented ADCC of CE by PMNs. In addition to IFN-gamma treatment, IL-6 treatment enabled U937 cells to lyse CE. Whereas IFN-gamma-treated U937 cells killed CE through both Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII, IL-6-treated U937 cells killed CE only through Fc gamma RI. In addition to IFN-gamma treatment, G-CSF treatment enabled HL-60 cells to lyse CE through both Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII. These results demonstrate that although IFN-gamma appears unique in regulating Fc gamma R expression on myeloid cells, cytokines other than IFN-gamma affect ADCC by these cells in a receptor-specific manner.