Objective To investigate the characteristic and its clinical value of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and its receptor, interleukin (IL)-1β and its receptor in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and to determine the role of them in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis. Methods The concentrations of TNF-α,soluble TNF receptor (sTNF-R) Ⅰ, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor were measured using sandwish ABC-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in serum and BALF of 46 patients with active tuberculosis and 21 patients with inactive tuberculosis, and in the serum of 20 cases of healthy control. Meanwhile the above-mentioned cytokine levels in serum and BALF of 19 patients with active tuberculosis were followed up. Differences between groups were assessed for significance by t test. Results The TNF-α,sTNF-R Ⅰ, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor levels and TNF-α/sTNF-R Ⅰ ratios in BALF of active tuberculosis group were (286.2±96.3) pg/L,(2 431.5±1 124.6) pg/L,(58.6±3.2) pg/L,(162.4±17.1) pg/L and 0.06±0.01, respectively, which were all significantly higher than those with inactive tuberculosis group (t=3.36,3.25,2.95,2.27 and 3.12 respectively; P<0.05). The TNF-α,sTNF-R Ⅰ,IL-1β and IL-1 receptor levels and TNF-α/sTNF-R Ⅰ ratios in BALF of cavernous tuberculosis group were (381.4±106.4) pg/L,(2 824.7±1 318.5) pg/L,(66.4±4.6) pg/L,(176.4±18.7) pg/L and 0.07±0.01, respectively,which were all significantly higher than those of non-cavernous tuberculosis group (t= 3.46,2.37, 3.19, 2.99 and 3.22, respectively; P<0.05). After 2-month' antituberculosis treatments, among 19 cases, the TNF-α,sTNF-R Ⅰ,IL-1β and IL-1 receptor levels and TNF-α/sTNF-R Ⅰ ratios in BALF of 16 cases were significantly lower than those at the beginning of treatments (t= 3.26,3.17, 3.28, 2.92 and 3.12 respectively; P<0.01). Meanwhile, their clinical symptoms improved, sputum smear negative, lesions on chest X-ray resolved and the cavity shrinked or closed. Conclusions TNF-α, sTNF-R Ⅰ, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor are likely to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis. Detection of TNF-α, sTNF-R Ⅰ, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor levels in the serum and BALF is helpful to understand the activity of disease, determine the clinical pattern of disease,assess the prognosis of disease and monitor the therapeutic effect in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.