The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family is important for tissue repair in pathological conditions including asthma. However, little is known about the impact of either TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 on asthmatic airway epithelial mucin expression. We evaluated bronchial epithelial TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 expression and their effects on mucin expression, and the role of TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 in interleukin (IL)-13-induced mucin expression. Epithelial TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and mucin expression were evaluated in endobronchial biopsies from asthmatics and normal subjects. The effects of TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 on mucin MUC5AC protein and mRNA expression, and the impact of IL-13 on epithelial TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and MUC5AC were determined in cultured bronchial epithelial cells from endobronchial brushings of both subject groups. In biopsy tissue, epithelial TGF-β2 expression levels were higher than TGF-β1 in both asthmatics and normals. TGF-β2, but not TGF-β1, was increased in asthmatics compared with normals, and significantly correlated with mucin expression. TGF-β2, but not TGF-β1, increased mucin expression in cultured epithelial cells from both subject groups. IL-13 increased the release of TGF-β2, but not TGF-β1, from epithelial cells. A neutralizing TGF-β2 antibody partially inhibited IL-13-induced mucin expression. These data suggest that TGF-β2 production by asthmatic bronchial epithelial cells may increase airway mucin expression. IL-13-induced mucin expression may occur in part through TGF-β2 up-regulation.