Accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, are implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases such as cancer and intervertebral disc degeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and the biological function of microRNA-34a in intervertebral disc degeneration. In this study, microRNA-34a expression was assessed in nucleus pulposus specimens and in IL-1β-stimulated nucleus pulposus cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction. microRNA-34a functions were investigated by using gain and loss of function experiments in nucleus pulposus cells and a dual luciferase reporter assay in 293T cells. microRNA-34a was dramatically up-regulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues and in IL-1β-stimulated nucleus pulposus cells when compared with controls. Furthermore, growth differentiation factor 5 was identified as a target of microRNA-34a. Aberrant expression of microRNA-34a inhibited growth differentiation factor 5 expression by direct binding to its 3'-untranslated region. This inhibition was abolished by mutation of the microRNA-34a binding sites. In addition, microRNA-34a silencing reversed IL-1β-induced decrease in type II collagen and aggrecan expression in nucleus pulposus cells. This effect was substantially suppressed by growth differentiation factor 5 silencing. Our results suggested that microRNA-34a inhibition prevents IL-1β-induced extracellular matrix degradation in human nucleus pulposus by increasing growth differentiation factor 5 expression. microRNA-34a inhibition may be a novel molecular target for intervertebral disc degeneration treatment through the prevention of nucleus pulposus extracellular matrix degradation.