We observed that 25 out of 43 cytokines showed significantly elevated concentrations in the CSF of the TBM group compared to the NF group, including fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF.basic), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), IFN-α2, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1rα, IL-2, IL-2Rα, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12(p70), IL-12(p40), IL-16, IL-17A, IL-18, IFN-γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-3, monokine induced by interferon-γ (MIG), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, stem cell factor (SCF), and TNF-α (all P < 0.05). Here, IL17A is linked to meningeal tuberculosis.