In this study, we compared the serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and arginase-1 in long-term survival kidney transplant recipients (LTSKTRs) with those in short-term survival kidney transplant recipients (STSKTRs). We then evaluated the relationship between these levels and graft function. Blood samples were collected from 50 adult LTSKTRs and 20 STSKTRs (graft survival approximately 1-3 years post-transplantation). Ail patients had stable kidney function. The samples were collected at our institution during the patients’ follow-up examinations between March 2017 and September 2017. The plasma levels of TGF-beta1, IL-10, and arginase-1 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The levels of TGF-beta1 and arginase-1 were significantly higher in the LTSKTRs than in the STSKTRs. The time elapsed since transplantation was positively correlated with the levels of TGF-beta1 and arginase-1 in the LTSKTRs. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was positively correlated with the TGF-beta1 level, and the serum creatinine level was negatively correlated with the TGF-beta1 level. Higher serum levels of TGF-beta1 and arginase-1 were found in LTSKTRs than in STSKTRs, and we found that TGF-beta1 was positively correlated with long-term graft survival and function. Additionally, TGF-beta1 and arginase-1 levels were positively correlated with the time elapsed since transplantation. On the basis of these findings, TGF-beta1 and arginase-1 may play important roles in determining long-term graft survival. Thus, we propose that TGF-beta1 and arginase-1 may potentially be used as predictive markers for evaluating long-term graft survival.