Previous studies have demonstrated that alveolar macrophages (AMphis) adherent to plastic release interleukin-8 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We sought to determine whether LPS could also alter surface adhesion molecule expression and thus modulate additional AMphi adhesive interactions. Canine AMphis obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of excised lung were adhered onto tissue culture plastic and exposed to LPS (0.01 to 100 ng/ml). Expression of beta 2 integrins and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was subsequently determined by flow cytometry, a cDNA probe to canine ICAM-1 was used to quantify ICAM-1 mRNA, and changes in adhesion molecule function were assessed by evaluating the extent of homotypic aggregation. ICAM-1 and CD11a/CD18 were present on freshly isolated AMphis. CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18 were expressed at lower levels. Nonadherent AMphis expressed a pattern of beta 2 integrin and ICAM-1 comparable to adherent cells. During short-term LPS stimulation (3 h), adherent AMphis increased both the synthesis and expression of ICAM-1. CD18 expression was either decreased or remained unchanged with LPS stimulation. LPS stimulation in vitro (> 0.01 ng/ml) enhanced the homotypic aggregation of adherent AMphis. Aggregation was blocked by monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-1 (CL18/6) and CD11a (R7.1) and CD18 (R15.7). Similar kinetics were found for expression of ICAM-1 and homotypic aggregation, suggesting that up-regulation of ICAM-1 is a major determinant of the LPS-stimulated aggregation of AMphis.