During hemodialysis, circulating mononuclear cells can be stimulated to different degrees, depending on membrane biocompatibility. Cell activation usually leads to aggregation and proliferation. It may also result in apoptosis if cells are subjected to abnormal activation. This may be the case of cells exposed to bioincompatible hemodialysis membranes. The study presented here evaluates the effects of two hemodialysis membranes, with different degrees of biocompatibility, (Cuprophan (CU; Lundia IC 5N; GAMBRO, Sweden) and polyacrylonitrile (AN69; Biospal 3000S, Hospal, France)) on aggregation and apoptosis of circulating human mononuclear cells and the human mononuclear cell line (THP-1). The results showed that 2-h incubation with CU, a bioincompatible membrane, produces cell aggregation of both peripheral mononuclear cells and THP-1 cells (35% and 54%, respectively). After 48 h of incubation with a CU membrane, apoptotic death was observed in 32% of THP-1 cells and in 45% of normal peripheral mononuclear cells. Neither cell aggregation nor apoptosis was observed after incubation with the AN69 membrane. CU membrane-induced apoptosis was inhibited by Staurosporrin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) a protein kinase C (PKC)-inhibitor, suggesting that cell apoptosis induced by the CU membrane is mediated by a PKC-dependent cell activation. Furthermore, cell prestimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of PKC, results in a increase in the percentage of THP-1 cell death by apoptosis after CU exposure (53%). Our study indicates that CU membranes induce mononuclear cell activation, leading to cell apoptosis.