Low back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration seriously affects the health of elderly patients, but also brings a huge burden to society and family. Intervertebral disc degeneration begins at age 18, and is accelerated by the age, with biomechanics, bio- chemistry, autoimmune inflammatory response and genetic predisposition factors. Intervertebral disc degeneration is a sequential, cascade pathological process that starts with changes in the microenvironment of intervertebral disc cells and progresses to changes in intervertebral disc structure and function. A major pathological feature is the release of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin, which increased ex- pression of catabolic enzymes, degradation of extracellular matrix, and intervertebral disc cell apoptosis. As interleukins (ILs) plays an im- portant role in intervertebral disc degeneration, this article reviews the effect of interleukin on intervertebral disc degeneration.