ABSTRACT
The inflammatory cytokines of IL-1β and TNF-α participate in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration is focused by the spine surgeons. Inflammatory cytokines represented by IL-1β and TNF-α act as the key factors in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration resulting in low back pain and radicular symptoms. Annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus can secrete TNF-α and IL-1β under the stimulation of mechanical injury, overstressed, genetic susceptibility and infection. The mechanism of inflammatory cytokines in intervertebral disc degeneration needs further investigation. The emphasis of researches will be on the inflammatory cytokines in the regulation of mechanism in the intervertebral disc degeneration, molecular targeted therapy, cell signaling pathways and the best time of anti-inflammatory therapy providing more evidence in the clinical application.