B lymphocytes are responsible for antigen uptake and presentation, as well as antibody production. These reactions require close cell-to-cell contact between B lymphocytes and monocytes. In this study we demonstrate that interleukin 8 (IL-8), γ-immune protein 10 (γIP-10) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) all induce a significant chemokinetic response of human B lymphocytes. Among the cytokines tested, rIL-8 was the strongest B lymphocyte migratory factor with a migratory index (MI) of 2.03±0.32, (P<0.002), followed by rTNF-α (MI=1.89±0.17,P<0.001) and rγIP-10 (MI=1.63±0.17,P<0.001). We did not observe B lymphocyte migration towards rIL-1α, rIL-2, rIL-4, rIL-10, interferon γ (rINF-γ) or transforming growth factor β (rTGF-β). Furthermore, we report that human B lymphocytes have a constitutive IL-8 mRNA expression and protein secretion in vitro. Resting as well as stimulated B lymphocytes secrete on average 1.5 ng IL-8/ml medium/24 h (2×106B lymphocytes). Our data indicate a possible mechanism by which B lymphocytes make contact with other cells, during immuno-inflammatory processes.