摘要Intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)is the primary factor causing low back pain,which is characterized as a chronic disease with multiple contributing factors.The inflammation is crucial to the entire pathogenic process.Macrophages can infiltrate into the nucleus pulposus.With various factors stimulation,macrophages interact with nucleus pulposus cells through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways,leading to inflammatory cytokines release,cell proliferation inhibition,apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells,and disruption of the extracellular matrix metabolic environment.Additionally,the degenerated nucleus pulposus cells cause macrophage polarization,migration,and infiltration through the corresponding cytokines.Both of these cause inflammatory interactions accelerating the development of IVDD.The present study summarizes the intercellular communication between macrophages and nucleus pulposus cells,and lays a foundation for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of IVDD.