The effects of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) on energy metabolism were studied in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Adenine nucleotide (ATP, ADP, and AMP) content, lactate production, the ketone body ratio (acetoacetate/beta-hydroxybutyrate) reflecting the liver mitochondrial redox state (NAD+/NADH), and nitric oxide formation were measured. Insulin increased ATP content in hepatocytes and had a maximal effect after 8-12 h of culture. Both interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6, but not tumor necrosis factor-alpha, significantly inhibited the ATP increase time- and dose-dependently. Interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 also stimulated lactate production. During the same period, interleukin-1beta but not interleukin-6 decreased the ketone body ratio. Furthermore, interleukin-1beta markedly stimulated nitric oxide formation in hepatocytes, and this increase was blocked by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) and by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine reversed inhibition of the ATP increase, decrease in the ketone body ratio, and increase in lactate production, which were induced by interleukin-1beta. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist completely abolished all of the effects induced by interleukin-1beta. These results demonstrated that interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 affect the insulin-induced energy metabolism in rat hepatocytes by different mechanisms. Specifically, interleukin-1beta inhibits ATP synthesis by causing the mitochondrial dysfunction, a process which may be mediated by nitric oxide.