Higher levels of serum IL-1β and TNF-α are associated with an increased probability of major depressive disorder

•This study assessed the serum IL-1β and TNF-α in MDD patients and healthy controls.•Increased serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α are observed in depression than controls.•The serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels are positively correlated with the severity of depression.•Females with higher Ham-D scores show greater serum IL-1β and TNF-α values compared to males.•The results support that the elevated levels of serum IL-1β and TNF-α might be used as risk assessment indicators for depression. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating psychiatric disease. The dysregulated cytokines in depression are assumed due to the hyperactivation of the immune system. Here we aimed to evaluate the serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in MDD. This study recruited 87 MDD patients and 87 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). The increased levels of serum IL-1β and TNF-α were observed among MDD patients. These higher levels of peripheral markers were positively correlated with the severity of depression. Therefore, the elevated levels of serum IL-1β and TNF-α might be used as risk assessment indicators for depression.