In the present study, we found that IL-1β, a key inflammatory cytokine during arthritis, induces the expression of the angiogenic factor FGF-2 in chondrocytes, and subsequently promotes EPC migration and tube formation through the activation of the IL-1RI/ROS/AMPK/p38/NF-κB signalling pathway. The gene discussed is MAPK14; the disease is arthritic joint disease.