[Objective] To explore the effect of RNA interference on the expression of TRAIL and cell apoptosis in rat lumbar intervertebral disc cells. [Methods] Rat lumbar intervertebral disc cells were isolated and cultured. Cells were transfected with TRAIL siRNA and/or 100 ng/mL TNF-α. MTT was used to detect rat lumbar intervertebral disc cell proliferation flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis; ELISA was used to detect Caspase-3 activity in cells; and the expression of Caspase-3 was detected by Western blot. [Results] Compared with the control group, there were no significant changes in cell growth rate, rat lumbar intervertebral disc cell apoptosis, and Caspase-3 activity and expression in rat lumbar intervertebral disc cells in the TRAIL-siRNA transfection group (P> 0.05). The proliferation rate (49.19±2.89%) of the cells in the TNF-α treatment group was significantly reduced, the apoptosis rate of the cells was significantly increased, and the activity and expression of Caspase-3 in the cells were significantly increased (P <0.05). However, the activity of cells in the TRAIL-siRNA transfection + TNF-α treatment group did not change significantly (P> 0.05), and the apoptosis rate of cells was significantly higher than that of the control group (P <0.05), but compared with TNF - α treatment the apoptosis rate was higher. The activity and expression of Caspase-3 did not change significantly (P>0.05). [Conclusion] Silencing of TRAIL can significantly inhibit the activation and expression of the apoptotic protein Caspase-3, and improve the activity and apoptosis of rat lumbar intervertebral disc cells induced by TNF-α.