This work reports the effect of the apolipoproteins A-I and A-II (apoA-I and apoA-II) on the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and on the oxidative burst of human neutrophils. By themselves, apoA-I and apoA-II do not affect the basal liberation of these cytokines, whereas apoA-I affects the release of IL-1beta from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neutrophils and apoA-II affects IL-8 released from LPS-stimulated neutrophils. ApoA-II also decreases the production of IL-8 released by neutrophils stimulated with the acute phase apolipoprotein serum amyloid A. Both apoA-I and apoA-II exerted approximately 30% inhibition on the oxidative burst of neutrophils stimulated by opsonized zymosan, as revealed by the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay. These findings give additional support to the idea that the role of human plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins goes beyond their function in lipid transport and metabolism. HDL apolipoproteins appear to be a class of mediators that can participate in the regulation of the activity of neutrophils.