Interleukin-1 beta rapidly stimulates the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxyl kinase in renal mesangial cells. This intedeukin-1 beta dependent activation is associated with a rapid increase in phosphatidyl inositol 3,4,5 phosphate in renal mesangial cells. The increase in PI 3-kinase activity is inhibited by wortmannin. In addition wortmannin partially inhibited IL-1 beta induced PGE(2) production and potentiated IL-1 beta induced nitric oxide production. These experiments suggest that IL-IP can activate PI 3-kinase in renal mesangial cells and that the enzyme plays a role in IL-1 beta induced PGE(2) and NO formation in the renal mesangial cell. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.