Human monocytes, in an essentially serum-free culture medium, were infected with dengue 2 virus in the presence of sub-neutralizing concentrations of antibody. Changes in procoagulant activity (PCA), in the plasminogen activator urokinase (UK), and the plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) were quantitated. One day after exposure to dengue virus, the cell-associated PAI-2 activity in the infected monocytes was 562 +/- 9 mU/10(6) cells (mean +/- SE) compared to 206 +/- 56 mU/10(6) cells for uninfected monocytes. Supernatants of the infected cells also showed greater than 2-fold increase in PAI-2 activity. This increase in cell-associated and supernatant PAI-2 activity was maintained during 4 days of culture. UK activity was not detected in control and infected cells nor in their supernatants. PCA activity was the same in control and dengue virus infected monocytes when measured during 4 days of culture. These data suggest that dengue infected monocytes may affect fibrinolysis at a localized level through increased production of PAI-2.