Stimulation of human monocytes with monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) resulted in an increase of [Ca2+]i. The [Ca2+]i rise was dependent on external Ca2+, could be reconstituted by the addition of external Ca2+ and was blocked by Ni2+. Agonist-stimulated Ca2+ influx was demonstrated directly by the use of Mn2+: in the presence of extracellular Mn2+, MCP-1 and FMLP stimulated a dose-dependent quench in fluorescence of Fura-2-loaded monocytes. This quench was the result of stimulation of Mn2+ influx and was blocked by Ni2+ and by the Ca2+ channel inhibitor SC38249. Pretreatment of monocytes with verapamil and nifedipine or high depolarizing [K+] had no effect. MCP-1 did not induce production of inositol triphosphate nor turnover of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate. Collectively, these results show that MCP-1 does not induce discharge of intracellular stores. This chemokine stimulates divalent cation entry (Ca2+ or Mn2+) by a mechanism independent of changes in [Ca2+]i, unrelated to voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and presumably involving receptor-activated channels. In addition to MCP-1, also two other members of the chemokine Cys-Cys family, RANTES and MIP-1 alpha, stimulated [Ca2+]i increase. Exposure of human monocytes to either RANTES or MIP-1 alpha, had no effect on a subsequent stimulation by MCP-1. On the contrary, MCP-1 cross-desensitized monocytes for a subsequent stimulation with RANTES and MIP-1 alpha. These results suggest a certain level of receptor sharing among members of the Cys-Cys chemokine family.