In the present study, we used histological staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real time PCR) to observe the effects of moxibustion on cartilage degradation and mRNA expression of RANKL and OPG in the knee joints of RA rabbits, to discover the protective effects and putative underlying mechanism of moxibustion on RA. Here, TNFRSF11B is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.