IP-10, a small, gamma-interferon-inducible protein with structural homology to interleukin-8 (IL-8), was prepared by automated chemical synthesis and compared with synthetic IL-8, GRO alpha and neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2) for neutrophil stimulating activity. The following functions were tested: cytosolic free calcium changes, chemotaxis in vitro, respiratory burst, exocytosis of azurophil and specific granules from cytochalasin B-pretreated cells, and competition for IL-8 receptor binding. At 1, 10, 100 and 1000 nM, IP-10 was inactive in all assays, in contrast to the reference peptides which exhibited the expected neutrophil stimulating effects. In addition, IP-10 did not induce neutrophil accumulation after intradermal injection in rats, and did not act as IL-8 antagonist.