Lipoxins are bioactive eicosanoids that are generated during multicellular events such as inflammation, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. They have selective actions on peripheral blood cells, in that previous results indicate that lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and lipoxin B4 (LXB4) inhibit neutrophil migration while they are both potent stimuli of peripheral blood monocyte (PBM) chemotaxis and adherence. Here, we report the impact of lipoxins on levels of free cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) in PBM and THP-1 cells (acute monocytic leukemia cells) as well as on the functional responses of these cells. LXA4, but not LXB4, induced a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i in monocytes that was half-maximal at approximately 200 nM. Prior exposure of the cells to EGTA reduced the LXA4-induced increase in [Ca2+]i by approximately 50 to 60%, indicating the contribution of both intracellular mobilization and external influx in LXA4 Ca2+ regulation. A leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist, ONO 4057, did not significantly alter LXA4-induced [Ca2+]i, while it inhibited the action of leukotriene B4. LXA4 also induced a rise in [Ca2+]i in the monocytic leukemia cell line (time to reach maximum = 15.1 +/- 0.87 s), and both LXA4 and LXB4 stimulated a concentration-dependent THP-1 cell adherence to laminin with concentrations as low as 10(-10)M. In contrast to the findings with LXA4, exposure of THP-1 or PBM to LXB4 was not accompanied by mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. Although both LXA4 and LXB4 stimulate adherence of PBM, they did not evoke superoxide anion generation by these cells, nor did they affect the rate of acidification of extracellular medium by monocytes, as monitored using a microphysiometer. Together, these results indicate that an increase in [Ca2+]i is a component of the signal transduction events following monocyte interaction with LXA4, but not LXB4, and that both LXA4 and LXB4 are potent and selective agonists for THP-1 cells and PBM. Moreover, they suggest that LX display a unique profile of actions with mononuclear cells compared with other known agonists of monocytes, and that LX can direct monocyte-mediated events.