Objective To analyze the differences in the expression levels of the lncRNA MALAT1, NEAT, NEAT2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from tuberculosis patients and healthy controls. Methods We detected the lncRNA expression levels in PBMC from 79 tuberculosis patients and 82 healthy controls by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and analyzed the correlation between lncRNA expression levels and some clinical features and laboratory indicators in tuberculosis patients. Results The expression levels of MALAT1, NEAT1 in PBMC of tuberculosis patients were significantly higher than healthy controls (Z=-4.386, P<0.001; Z=-10.175, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the expression of NEAT2 between tuberculosis patients and healthy controls (Z=-0.203，P=0.839). The correlation results of lncRNA levels and some clinical features, laboratory indicators in tuberculosis patients suggested that the NEAT2 level in PBMC of newly treated tuberculosis patients was higher than recurrent tuberculosis patients, while the NEAT2 level in PBMC of sputum smear positive tuberculosis patients was lower than that of sputum smear negative tuberculosis patients (all P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between MALAT1 level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (rs=-0.256, P=0.034). Conclusion MALAT1 and NEAT1 are abnormally expressed in PBMC of tuberculosis patients, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis.