<p style="text-align: center;">ZHANG Haifeng, CHEN Shutao, MAO Jiaona, PAN Yi, HUANG Chao, XIONG Fuyong¹,</p><p style="text-align: center;">( 1 Hospital Affiliated to Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi Nanchang 330006；2 School of Graduates, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi Nanchang 330000 )</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Abstract</strong>: <strong>Objective</strong>:&nbsp; To observe the effects of heat-sensitive moxibustion on the content of Interleukin-1β（IL-1β）、 Tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and&nbsp; Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 （MMP-13） in KOA rabbits,and discuss the mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion in treating KOA. Methods: 42 male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: blank control group(n=6), model group(n=6), moxibustion group(n=24) and sham-operated group(n=6).Blank control group was fed normally, model group and moxibustion group were injected with papain in order to set up KOA model, and sham-operated group was injected with normal saline. From the fisrt day of modeling, all rabbits(except blank group)&nbsp; were forced to&nbsp; move&nbsp; 15 days,&nbsp; every day&nbsp; for&nbsp; 30min.&nbsp; After&nbsp; modeling,&nbsp; moxibustion&nbsp; group&nbsp; treated&nbsp; with&nbsp; suspended&nbsp; moxibustion&nbsp; at&nbsp; the&nbsp; point Dubi(ST35) ,40 min once time, once per day, totally 15 days.&nbsp; Check and record the changes of rabbits’ temperature every 10min&nbsp; to divide the moxibustion group into heat-sensitive moxibustion group and non heat-sensitive moxibustion group.&nbsp; Two groups were randomly selected 6 rabits. The other three groups were fed as usual, with no special treatment.&nbsp; At the end of treatment, the content of IL-1β&nbsp; and TNF-α&nbsp; in joint fluid was examined by&nbsp; radioimmunoassay,&nbsp; and the content of MMP-13 were examined by Real-time PCR. <strong>Results</strong>: The level of IL-1β、TNF-α&nbsp; and MMP-13 of other groups were significantly lower than blank control group(P＜0.05，P＜0.01);&nbsp; &nbsp;compared with model group, moxibustion group and sham-operated group&nbsp; were&nbsp; significantly&nbsp; lower(P＜0.05，P＜0.01);and&nbsp; the&nbsp; levels&nbsp; reduced&nbsp; significantly&nbsp; compared&nbsp; heatsensitive moxibustiongroup with non heat-sensitive moxibustion group(P＜0.05，P＜0.01). <strong>Conclusion:</strong>Heat-sensitive moxibustion could treat KOA and reduce joint damage, which might be through inhibiting the content of IL-1β、TNF-α、MMP-13 and reducing inflammation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key words</strong>: Heat-sensitive moxibustion, KOA, IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-13</p><p><br/></p>