Objective To observe the regulatory effects Bax， Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in knee cartilage of rabbits by knee osteoarthritis of warm-needle-moxibustion at neixiyan（EX-LE4） and waixiyan（EX-LE5）. Methods 18 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group（normal group）， knee osteoarthritis group（model group） and warm-needle-moxibustion at neixiyan（EX-LE4） and waixiyan（EX-LE5） group（WNM group） using the randomized controlled Methods. The knee osteoarthritis model was made by injecting four percent of papain into the joint cavity. The WNM group were received warm-needle-moxibustion at neixiyan（EX-LE4） and waixiyan（EX-LE5） for 20 min， one treatment for two days， every 2 weeks is a course of treatment， there are rest 2 days between 2 course， after 4 courses of treatment. The model group and the normal group were not given any treatment. The expressions of Bax mRNA、Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in knee cartilage tissue was detected by RT-qPCR and Western-Blotting. Results ① Compared with the model group， the spirit， appetite and knee joint activities of rabbits in the WNM Group were obviously improved. ② The expressions of Bax mRNA and protein in the model group were both higher than those in normal group（P<0.001， P<0.01）， and the expressions of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in the model group were both lower than those in normal group（P<0.001， P<0.001）. Compared with the model group， the expressions of Bax mRNA in the WNB group were significantly decreased（P<0.05）， and the expressions of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in the model group were both obviously improved（P<0.05， P<0.05）. Conclusion Warm-needle-moxibustion at neixiyan（EX-LE4）and waixiyan（EX-LE5）can down-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA in knee cartilage of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis， and can up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein to inhibit the signal transduction of chondrocyte apoptosis pathway.