Cytokines are closely related to the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Acupuncture exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects via elevating anti-inflammatory cytokine level and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine level and regulating Th 1/Th 2 balance, which reflects the dual directional regulatory effect of acupuncture. However, problems exist in the current researches, such as inadequate depth, limited breadth and not so up-to-date research focus. The mediocre research level and the phenomena of some contradictory results among studies also need being concerned. Therefore, progress may be attained if a holistic, dynamic and networked study is conducted on the influence of acupuncture on cytokines by combining the latest progress in the mechanisms of network of cytokines and neuroendocrine immune network, and high throughput cytokine capture assay. In this way, the mechanism of cytokines in multi-targets (such as local joints, peripheral blood circulation, central nervous system) involving the effects of acupuncture in improving RA will be known more.