The effect of cloned human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on the expression of HLA-ABC antigens (HLA-ABC) and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) on human peripheral lymphoid cells in vivo was studied by cytofluorometry using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescein-labelled rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin. A significant increase in the mean fluorescence intensity of HLA-ABC (median 59%, P less than 0.001) and beta 2m (median 57%, P less than 0.001) on small lymphoid cells was observed 24 h after initiation of IFN-alpha treatment (50 X 10(6) units IFN-alpha/m2 three times a week). The enhanced expression of these antigens in vivo was found in 11 of 12 examined patients with primary bronchial carcinoma. A concomitant increase in serum beta 2m (median 90%, P less than 0.001) was found in all patients. In contrast the amount of cell-associated HLA-ABC and beta 2m remained unchanged (P greater than 0.1 and P greater than 0.5, respectively) by day-to-day analysis of an untreated healthy control group. An increased expression of both HLA-ABC (mean 55%, P less than 0.0005) and beta 2m (mean 23%, P less than 0.01) was also observed prior to treatment in the lung cancer patients when compared to a group of age matched healthy individuals. Treatment with IFN-alpha caused a significant redistribution of mononuclear cells resulting in both absolute and relative lymphopenia. Pre-treatment lymphocyte counts were 1.09 X 10(9)/1 (range 0.49-1.73), post-treatment counts were 0.55 X 10(9)/1 (range 0.39-1.06).