We report the identification of 16 of the 30 cellular proteins which are rapidly phosphorylated in tumour-necrosis-factor-(TNF)-treated or interleukin-1-(IL-1)-treated primary human fibroblasts. Phosphorylation assays of proteins found in the cytosolic extract of human fibroblasts by in vitro assays indicate that at least 12 of these proteins are likely to be substrates for mitogen-activated protein kinase(s) (MAP kinase), mitogen-activated protein-kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAP kinase 2), a pp60c-src-like tyrosine kinase as well as for a putative dual nucleotide protein kinase (DNK) in TNF-treated or IL-1-treated cells. Comparison of the phosphorylation of cytosolic proteins in vitro by exogenously added protein kinases with that observed in cells treated with TNF or IL-1 enabled the identification of cellular substrates of TNF-activated and IL-1-activated cellular protein kinases. Comparison of protein kinase activities of cytosolic extracts derived from TNF-treated or IL-1-treated and control fibroblasts also show the activation of MAP kinase, MAPKAP kinase 2, a putative DNK and a pp60src-like tyrosine kinase 3-19 fold. The data suggest TNF or IL-1 signal transduction may involve the phosphorylation of protein phosphatase type 2A by a pp60src-like tyrosine kinase, followed by the activation of MAP kinase, MAPKAP kinase 2 and the putative DNK. However, the activation of MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase 2 may be independent of the earlier activation of pp60src-like tyrosine kinase and the inactivation of protein phosphatase type 2A.