Differentiation between endogenous pyrogen and leukocytic endogenous mediator.

The crude material released from glycogen-stimulated rabbit peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes when administered to experimental animals elicits a number of metabolic and physiologic alterations characteristic of those observed in the host inflammatory response. Classically, the mediator of febrile response observed in rabbits and other species has been termed endogenous pyrogen (EP), whereas leukocytic endogenous mediator (LEM) has been used as a general term to denote the substance(s) mediating multiple inflammatory responses observed in rats. The latter substance, however, has not been previously demonstrated to differ from EP. This report presents evidence indicating that EP and LEM are different molecular species. Evidence supporting the differentiation between these entities includes: physical separation of EP from one or more mediators that induce metabolic alterations attributed to LEM; production of LEM activities by stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the absence of detectable pyrogenic activity; and differences in the release of EP and LEM from stimulated rabbit granulocytes in the presence of potassium ion.