Elevated levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) have been detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with asthma. However, the source of this enhanced mediator production is not known. Here, we investigate the production of NGF from a human airway epithelial cell line (A549). Under basal conditions, A549 cells generated NGF in a time-dependent fashion. However, basal release was significantly augmented in a concentration-dependent manner in cells treated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and inhibited by dexamethasone. These data suggest that NGF released from structural cells may be an important target for the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids in asthma therapy.