The role of leukocyte function-associated Ag-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, CD54) interactions in human T cell and B cell collaboration was examined by studying the effect of mAb to these determinants on B cell proliferation and differentiation stimulated by culturing resting B cells with CD4+ T cells activated with immobilized mAb to the CD3 molecular complex. In this model system, mAb to either the alpha (CD11a) or beta (CD18) chain of LFA-1 or ICAM-1 (CD54) inhibited B cell responses significantly. The mAb did not directly inhibit B cell function, inasmuch as T cell-independent activation induced by formalinized Staphylococcus aureus and IL-2 was not suppressed. Moreover, DNA synthesis and IL-2 production by immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells were not suppressed by the mAb to LFA-1 or ICAM-1. Although the mAb to LFA-1 inhibited enhancement of IL-2 production by co-culture of immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells with B cells, addition of exogenous IL-2 or supernatants of mitogen-activated T cells could not abrogate the inhibitory effects of the mAb to LFA-1 or ICAM-1 on B cell responses. Inhibition was most marked when the mAb were present during the initial 24 h in culture. Immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated LFA-1-negative CD4+ T cell clones from a child with leukocyte adhesion deficiency could induce B cell responses, which were inhibited by mAb to LFA-1 or ICAM-1. These results indicate that the interactions between LFA-1 and ICAM-1 play an important role in mediating the collaboration between activated CD4+ T cells and B cells necessary for the induction of B cell proliferation and differentiation, and for enhancement of IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells. Moreover, the data are consistent with a model of T cell-B cell collaboration in which interactions between LFA-1 on resting B cells and ICAM-1 on activated CD4+ T cells play a critical role in initial T cell-dependent B cell activation.