目的　探讨中药熏洗对食蟹猴膝骨关节炎（KOA）模型的关节液中IL-1β、TGF-β1细胞因子表达和WBC计数的影响。  方法　老年型食蟹猴9只和青年型食蟹猴6只，老年型食蟹猴根据症状作为自发性KOA模型，随机分为熏洗组（n=3）、传统组（n=3）和对照组（n=3），青年型食蟹猴为健康组（n=6）。熏洗组、传统组左侧膝关节分别接受中药熏洗或中药热敷治疗，治疗前、治疗2周、4周及6周时分别测定关节液内WBC计数、IL-1β和TGF-β水平，运用重复测量的方差分析方法进行统计分析。  结果　（1）老年食蟹猴膝关节软骨HE染色可见关节软骨退变；（2）治疗前，熏洗组、传统组和对照组的膝关节液内的WBC计数、IL-1β表达水平显著高于健康组（P<0.05），TGF-β1表达水平显著低于健康组（P<0.05）；（3）相比于治疗前，治疗2周、4周和6周后，熏洗组和传统组关节液内WBC计数和IL-1β水平显著降低（P<0.05）；（4）治疗2周、4周和6周时，熏洗组和传统组关节液内WBC计数和IL-1β水平均明显低于对照组（P<0.05），且熏洗组比传统组两者的水平下降更明显（P<0.05）；（5）治疗2周和4周后，熏洗组和传统组关节液内TGF-β1水平较治疗前显著升高（P<0.05）；（6）治疗2周、4周时，熏洗组和传统组关节液内TGF-β1水平明显高于对照组（P<0.05），且熏洗组比传统组升高关节液内TGF-β1作用更显著。  结论　食蟹猴KOA模型的膝关节液内IL-1β和TGF-β1细胞因子表达异常、WBC计数明显升高，中药熏洗和中药热敷等治疗可下调膝关节液内IL-1β和上调TGF-β1细胞因子的表达水平、降低WBC计数，有助于治疗KOA，且熏洗的效果优于传统的中药热敷。

Objectives　To observe the effects of herbal steam-wash therapy on knee osteoarthritis(KOA),in terms of WBC, IL-1β and TGF-β1 concentrations.　Methods　9 SPF old cynomolgus monkeys as KOA animal models were randomly divided into a steam-wash group (n=3), a traditional group(n=3) and a control group(n=3). Other 6 SPF youth cynomolgus monkeys were selected as a healthy group. The left knee of cynomolgus monkeys in the steam-wash group or traditional group were treated with herbal steam-wash therapy or traditional herbal compress therapy for 6 weeks, separately. The WBC, IL-1β and TGF-β1 concentration were detected from joint irrigation fluids before treatment and 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks after treatment. Analysis of variance for repeated data was performed.　Results　(1)Articular cartilage degeneration of aged cynomolgus monkeys could be seen by HE staining; (2) In regard to WBC and IL-1β concentration before treatment, the steam-wash group, traditional group and control group compared with the normal group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). On the contrast, the concentration of TGF-β1 increased significantly (P<0.05). (3) At 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks after treatments, WBC and IL-1β concentration decreased significantly than those before treatments in the steam-wash group and traditional group (P<0.05). (4) In regard to WBC and IL-1β concentration at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks after treatments, the steam-wash group and traditional group compared with the control group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), which decreased more in the steam-wash group compared with the traditional group (P<0.05). (5) The TGF-β1 concentration increased significantly at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatments (P<0.05). (6) In terms of TGF-β1 concentration at 2 weeks, 4 weeks after treatments, the steam-wash group and traditional group compared with the control group were significantly increased (P<0.05), which increased more in the steam-wash group compared with the traditional group (P<0.05).    Conclusions　The IL-1β, TGF-β1 concentrations and WBC in the knee joint fluids from cynomolgus monkey models of KOA were abnormal. Herbal steam-wash therapy and traditional herbal compress therapy could decrease the IL-1β concentration and increase the TGF-β1 concentration in knee joint, which is helpful for treatment of KOA. Moreover, the effect of herbal steam-wash therapy is better than traditional herbal compress therapy.