Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity by E. coli lipopolysaccharide-triggered monocytes were studied in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease. Monocytes from cirrhotic patients were shown to have a significant reduction in IL-1 and TNF-a activity, compared with that from age- and sex-matched healthy controls. These findings indicate further immunoregulatory disturbances concerning alcoholic liver cirrhosis.