In addition to neuropeptides, it has been suggested that proinflammatory cytokines are able to stimulate dorsal horn afferents to influence the development of peripheral inflammation.204, 205 It has been reported that spinal IL-1β, associated with reactive astrocytes, can contribute to the induction and maintenance of temporomandibular arthritis and associated pain.205 In these experiments, central disruption or inhibition of spinal IL-1 receptor type 1 (a receptor for IL-1β) signaling in mice with established arthritis, resulted in significant attenuation of joint pathology. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is arthritic joint disease.