Increasing evidence suggests that a complex net-work of fever induction pathways in mammalian exists. In this article,the overview of recent studies on the mechanism of fever induced by different pyrogens using IL-1, IL-1R, ICE, IL-1ra, IL-1RacP, IL-6,IL-10,TNFR,cPLA 2,COX,EP,AT 2,iNOS and D 2/3 knockout mice is presented. Hyperthermia respond to localized infection/inflammation(e.g.,sc injection of turpentine) is mediated by IL-1β and IL-6 in turn.While fever induced by systemic infection/inflammation(e.g.,treatment with LPS intraperitoneally) varies with the different doses of pyrogens administered .Fever caused by a low dose of LPS administered ip is IL-6 dependent ,but the IL-6 independent pathway is crucial for the fever evoked by a high dose of LPS.Febrile responses during both local and systemic infection/inflammation develop totally through central PGE 2 dependent mechanism, but some stress induced hyperthermia otherwise.
