Abstract: Objective To detect the expression of the IL1 and the M MP2 prote in in lumbar interverbral discand discuss the role of the IL1 and the MMP2 protein in the course of the herniated intervertebral disc.Methods All of samples of herniated lumbardiscs was obtained from 42 adult patients operated.They were divided into two groups;22 cases were protrusion type(group A)and 20 cases were seque stration type(group B).As a control group,10 lumbar discspeci mens were harvested from 8 patients suffering from acute bursting fracture of lumbar of spine Immunohisto chemistry was used to detect expression of the IL1 and the MMP 2 protein.Results The expression level of IL1 and MMP2 was much higher in group A and B than in the control group.The expression of 1L1 showed no significant difference between group A(86.36%)and B(85%),while the expression of MMP 2 was higher in group B(63.63% in group B vs 90% in group A).Conclusion The expression levels of IL1 and MMP2 are higher in degenerative lumbar in tervertebral disc.The up regulation of MMP 2 probably has something to do with the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration,while IL1 seems not related.The increa sing expression of IL 1 and MMP 2 might be one of the reasons the degene ration and prolapse of lumbarintervertebral discs.