Objective To correlate T2 and T2* value of intervertebral disc (IVD) with Pfirrmann grades of IVD degeneration in patients with low back pain, in order to identify whether T2 and T2* value can be imaging biomarkers for quantitative assessment of IVD degeneration. Methods Sixty-six patients with low back pain underwent conventional structure imaging and quantitative imaging (T2 and T2* mapping) of lumber IVD using 3 Tesla MR system. Pfirrmann grades were performed by two diagnostic radiologists in concensus on the basis of the sagittal T2-weighted images. T2 and T2* values of IVD were measured by one diagnostic radiologist through manual drawing region-of-interest (ROI) on midsagittal T2 and T2* maps to cover the nucleus pulposus and inner annulus fibrosus. The correlation between Pfirrmann grades and the two quantitative parameters of IVD was assessed by Pearson correlation test. The difference in T2 and T2* values of contiguous Pfirrmann grades were compared using t test. Results T2 and T2* values of IVD were of negative correlation to Pfirrmann grades with correlation coefficients of -0.612 and -0.354 (P<0.001), respectively. Except grades Ⅳ andⅤ, T2 and T2* values of contiguous Pfirrmann grades showed statistical significant differences. Conclusion T2 and T2* values of IVD could be potential imaging biomarkers for quantitative assessment of IVD degeneration, which might be helpful of early diagnosis and objective evaluation of degeneration. For the end stage degeneration, the decrease of T2 and T2* values is slow down, and morphological changes become obvious.