In order to examine the regulation of cytokine receptor gene expression an RNase protection assay (RPA) was developed that allows the simultaneous and semiquantitative measurement of mRNAs encoding for the IL-1 p60 and p80, TNF p55 and p75, IFN-gamma, and IL-6 receptors. Titration experiments revealed that this method was very sensitive allowing the detection of the target cytokine receptor mRNAs down to at least 0.01 microgram of spleen poly(A)+ RNA. The cytokine receptor RPA was used to examine the expression of the receptor genes in various organs from normal mice and mice that had been injected with LPS. In normal mice expression of the IL-1R p80, TNFR p55 and p75, IFN-gamma, and IL-6R but not the IL-1R p60 transcripts was readily detectable in spleen, liver, kidney, and brain. Following LPS treatment, there was an induction of the IL-1R p60 mRNA in all organs and an up-regulation of the IL-1R p80, TNFR p55 and p75, IFN-gamma, and IL-6 receptor mRNAs particularly in spleen, liver, and kidney. Interorgan differences were observed in the regulation of these receptor mRNAs, indicating an organ-specific response to the LPS challenge. Our findings indicate the cytokine receptor RPA is a powerful and versatile tool for the simultaneous analysis of multiple cytokine receptor mRNAs in tissue samples. This technique will prove valuable in further evaluating the coordinated regulation of the expression of these genes, which are pivotal in the biology of cytokines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)