Human NK cells produce IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and granulocyte macrophage-CSF when stimulated with susceptible target cells or through the CD16 and CD94 cell surface molecules. This study reports that NK cells also produce IL-5, a cytokine typically produced by Th2 cells, which mediates mobilization and differentiation of eosinophils. Polyclonal NK cell populations and NK cell clones produce IL-5 when stimulated to proliferate with gamma-irradiated MM-170 melanoma cells or JY B-lymphoblastoid cells and rIL-2. IL-5 is produced in cultures generated from freshly isolated NK cells (primary cultures) and when quiescent NK cells from primary cultures are restimulated to proliferate (secondary cultures). Production of IL-5 is on average 8.8-fold greater in secondary cultures compared with primary cultures (n > 18), suggesting that the ability of NK cells to produce IL-5 matures during primary stimulation. IL-5 secretion, particularly in primary cultures, is augmented by IL-4 and is inhibited by IL-12 and IL-10. By contrast, IL-4 and IL-12 have the reverse effects on IFN-gamma secretion. Cultured NK cells that no longer secrete cytokines can be restimulated to do so with either phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate and ionomycin or with susceptible target cells in the presence of rIL-2. IL-5 production in these cultures occurs only when NK cells are in an exponential growth phase, whereas IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and granulocyte macrophage-CSF are produced also by stimulation of quiescent cells, although to a lesser extent. Furthermore, cytokine production is unrelated to the cytolytic activity of NK cells. In conclusion, proliferating human NK cells have the potential to produce IL-5 with secretion regulated by IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12.