Correlation of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with potential biomarkers

•We found circulating cytokines (particularly TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) to be significantly elevated in concentration in the serum of COPD patients compared to healthy controls.•Circulatory cytokines i.e. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β increases with the severity of COPD stages. So we can say that circulatory cytokines are well correlated with the severity of COPD patients. As the levels of circulating cytokines increases the severity of COPD stages also increases. So they are directly proportional to each other.•These may serve as markers of particularly significant systemic inflammation.•Help clinicians to proper and timely manage the patients, Paves the way for future detailed research in COPD patients.•Helps in development of new drug and drug designing.