BACKGROUND:With the research development of disc degeneration at molecular level, transforming growth factor β1 gene has a role in the proliferation and differentiation of intervertebral disc cels, and it is involved in the repair of intervertebral disc injury. But whether transforming growth factor β1 is also involved in pathophysiological process of disc degeneration has not been determined. OBJECTIVE:To discuss the relationship between transforming growth factor β1, inflammatory cytokines and degree of lumbar disc degeneration. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with lumbar disc degeneration (22 mild, 26 moderate and 24 severe cases) were enroled as observation group, and another 30 patients without lumbar disc degeneration served as control group. Levels of transforming growth factorβ1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor α were detected and compared among patients with mild, moderate and severe lumbar disc degeneration as wel as between the observation and controlgroups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Levels of transforming growth factor β1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor α were significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (P < 0.01). In the observation group, the above-mentioned indicators were ranked as folows: severe cases > moderate cases > mild cases (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between these indicators and the severity of lumbar disc degeneration (r=0.198, 0.312, 0.356, 0.275, 0.724,P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the levels of transforming growthfactor β1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor α are increased with the severity of lumbar disc degeneration.