CD56^bright NK cells produce the type 2 cytokines IL-10 and IL-13.

(A) IL-12 plus IL-15 was the only monokine combination that induced IL-10 production in human NK cell subsets. Significantly more protein was detected in CD56^bright NK cells (1635.5 ± 266.3 vs 61.2 ± 21.3 pg/mL CD56^bright vs CD56^dim; *P < .0012; n = 8). (B) The CD56^brightsubset produced significantly more IL-13 protein than CD56^dim NK cells after stimulation with IL-15 plus IL-1β or IL-18 (*P < .0018; **P < .014; n = 7). No IL-13 was detected in cultures with IL-12 plus IL-1β, IL-15, or IL-18 (n = 3) or with PMA plus ionomycin (n = 2). ■ indicates CD56^dim; ▪, CD56^bright.