〔Abstract〕 Objective To analyze the effect of miR-138 regulating TrkA-TRPV1 signaling pathway on cartilage damage in knee osteoarthritis(KOA) model rats. Methods Forty healthy SD rats were selected and divided into normal group, model group, silent group and overexpression group with 10 rats in each. Behavioral and cartilage histological scores of rats in each group were compared. The expression levels of inflammatory factors[TUMOR necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-1, IL-6]in articular fluid and bone metabolism markers[matrix metalloproteinase(MMP-13), type Ⅱ collagen(Col Ⅱ)], TrkA, TRPV1 and Mir-138 in cartilage tissue were detected. The effect of Mir-138 on cartilage injury in KOA rats was analyzed. Results Compared with normal group, behavioral and cartilage histological scores of model group, silent group and overexpression group increased(P<0.05). Compared with overexpression group, behavioral and cartilage histological scores of model group and silent group increased(P<0.05). Compared with normal group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 and the expressions of MMP-13, TrkA and TRPV1 increased in model group, silent group and overexpression group, while the expressions of Col II and Mir-138 decreased(P<0.05). Compared with overexpression group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 and the expressions of MMP-13, TrkA and TRPV1 increased in model group and silent group, while the expressions of Col II and Mir-138 decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion miR-138 can alleviate cartilage injury in KOA model rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TrkA-TRPV1 signaling pathway.