Effects of E-5110, a novel non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, on interleukin-1 (IL-1) generation from human monocytes were studied in vitro. E-5110 reduced the amounts of extra- and intracellular IL-1 activity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 micrograms/ml) in a dose-dependent manner (1-10 microM). E-5110 also inhibited the IL-1 generation induced by antigen-antibody complexes, opsonized zymosan and silica particles. It was suggested that the inhibition of IL-1 generation by E-5110 was independent of the inhibitory effects on arachidonate cyclooxygenase and/or lipoxygenase because indomethacin, piroxicam, BW755C and AA861 had no effects on IL-1 generation. Hydrocortisone (IC50:0.084 microM), aurothioglucose (11.5 microM) and lobenzarit (75.0 microM), which are clinically effective antirheumatic drugs, also inhibited IL-1 generation, like E-5110 (1.21 microM). It is expected that E-5110 will be superior to classical non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs in medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.