Objective To investigate the influence of acupuncture,warm-needle acupuncture, electro-acupuncture on cartilage metabolism-related factors of the experimental knee osteoarthritis model, and explore the similarities and differences of mechanism in different kinds of acupuncture treatment. Methods New Zealand rabbits were equally randomized into control, model,acupuncture, warm-needle acupuncture and electro-acupuncture groups. KOA model was duplicated by anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT). After KOA model was established one week, acupointsof“Dubi”(ST35),“Zusanli”(ST36) were used for treatment with different acupuncture treatmentstwenty times totally. The concentration of IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β1,MMP-1,MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results In comparison with control group, the concentration of IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β1,MMP-1 increased significantly in model group(P < 0.05),while MMP-3 reduced significantly(P < 0.05); compared with model group, IL-1β,TNF-α, TGF-β1,MMP-1 reduced significantly in each treatmentgroup(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01),MMP-3 increased significantlyin warm-needle acupuncture group(P < 0.05); comparison of IL-1β,TNF-α, TGF-β1,MMP-1in serum was not statistically significant (P >0.05) between treatment groups; MMP-3, TIMP-1 were significantly lower in electro-acupuncture group compared with acupuncture and warm-needle acupuncture group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Conclusions Acupuncture,warm-needle acupuncture and electro-acupuncture all can regulate cartilage metabolism-related factors and effectively delay cartilage degeneration,especially warm-needle acupuncture.