Activated astrocytes synthesize and release diverse proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) and gliotransmitters (D-serine, ATP and glutamate) and these signaling molecules have been shown to mediate nociceptive signal transmission in the spinal cord in different animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain (Watkins et al., 2001; Raghavendra et al., 2004; De Leo et al., 2006; Moon et al., 2015). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is neuropathic pain.