The insulin stimulatory effect of 7 mM glucose on isolated perifused rat islets is dramatically potentiated by the monokine interleukin 1 (IL-1). At levels (10(-10) -10(-8) M) noted in vivo during sepsis, it reversibly amplifies peak second phase insulin release to the hexose. At 2.75 mM glucose, however, IL-1 has no effect on insulin secretion. IL-1 also potentiates glyceraldehyde (2 mM)- and alpha-ketoisocaproate (5 mM)-induced insulin secretion. In islets whose phosphoinositides were prelabeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, 2.0-5.0 nM IL-1 increases the efflux of [3H]inositol from subsequently perifused islets, the parallel accumulation of labeled inositol phosphates, and insulin secretion in the simultaneous presence of 7 mM glucose but not 2.75 mM glucose. In support of these in vitro observations, the in vivo infusion of IL-1 (40 micrograms/kg body wt) elevated circulating plasma insulin levels two-to fourfold. These results establish IL-1 as a potent, readily reversible, glucose-dependent modulator of stimulated insulin secretion and further suggest that its positive impact on insulin release is mediated, at least in part, by phosphoinositide-derived second messenger molecules. IL-1-induced insulin secretion may participate in the multiple metabolic and immunologic adaptations occurring during sepsis.