Fig. 1.
Proposed mechanisms for the generation of fever in sepsis. Stimulation of sentinel cells by exogenous pyrogens produces endogenous pyrogens which stimulate fever production in the pre-optic area (POA) of the hypothalamus by the second messengers prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2), and ceramide. PGE2 is also produced from Kupffer cells in the liver in response to stimulation from lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which additionally stimulates the POA via the vagus nerve. OVLT organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis