Recent studies have identified some of the early molecular transductional events, which occur during the activation of murine macrophages. Our current evidence indicate a central role for protein kinase C for the priming effect of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma). IFN gamma also initiates Na+/H+ exchange and 45Ca efflux from murine macrophages (cascade I). Our data further indicate the involvement of multiple transductional pathways in the actions of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Specifically, molecular events involved in the action of LPS include production of inositol phosphates and calcium mobilization as well as IFN gamma-regulated alterations in intracellular pH (cascade II). Our data further indicate that additional transductional events (e.g., synthesis of early or competence proteins) in response to LPS (cascade III) are also necessary for macrophage activation. Finally, regulation of important surface (e.g., Ia) and secreted molecules (TNF or IL-1) is exerted at the levels of both transcription and stabilization of specific mRNA in response to transductional cascades I, II and III. Taken together, the data indicate macrophage activation is complexly regulated at multiple levels.