To　understand　multidrug　resistance　gene　expression　in　reactive　astrocytes,　the　present　study　involved　stimulated　astrocytes　with　tumor　necrosis　factor　(TNF)-　and　determined　gene　expression　by　reverse　transcription-quantitative　polymerase　chain　reaction　and　western　blot　analysis.　Stimulation　induced　P-glycoprotein　(gp)　and　multidrug　resistance-associated　protein　(MRP0)　1　expression,　which　peaked　by　24　h.　Interestingly,　the　expression　of　P-gp　and　Mrp1　correlated　with　cell　proliferation.　Therefore,　reactivation　of　astrocytes　may　increase　P-gp　and　Mrp1　expression　through　TNF-　and　nuclear　factor　(NF)-B　signaling.　To　the　best　of　the　authors＇　knowledge,　the　present　study　is　the　first　to　demonstrate　that　in　vitro　activated　astrocytes　likely　induced　P-gp　and　Mrp1　expression　by　increasing　NF-B　expression.　The　results　of　the　present　study　provide　a　novel　insight　into　the　mechanism　of　refractory　epilepsy　and　suggest　inhibiting　cytokine　signaling　may　block　multidrug　resistance.