Low molecular weight eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF), which has previously been demonstrated in mast cells, basophils, neutrophils and eosinophils, was shown to be released by several types of mononuclear phagocytes. Highly purified rat peritoneal macrophages and human monocytes produced ECF on stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 (Ion) and with phagocytic stimuli in a time-dependent fashion, whereas lymphocyte- or mast cell-specific stimuli were ineffective. Two murine macrophage lines and a fibroblast cell line (L cells) also generated and secreted ECF with the different stimuli. ECF from macrophages was similar to that from neutrophils in its target cell specificity (eosinophils and neutrophils) and its elution profile on Sephadex G-10 columns (300-500 dalton). ECF secretion from monocytes was not affected by mitomycin C or cycloheximide, whereas indomethacin enhanced and a phospholipase A inhibitor decreased its production. These in vitro findings suggest that, through ECF, mononuclear phagocytes may potentially regulate eosinophil and neutrophil influx to sites of inflammatory reactions.