noun
definition
Any substance that produces fever, or a rise in body temperature
Examples of pyrogens in a Sentence
There are many different types of pyrogens, including prostaglandins, the substances responsible for pain.
This resetting of the hypothalamus is usually caused by small molecules called pyrogens in the blood.
When an infection occurs, fever-inducing agents called pyrogens are released, either by the body's immune system or by the invading cells themselves that trigger the resetting of the thermostat.
In other circumstances, the immune system may overreact (allergic reactions) or become damaged (autoimmune diseases), causing the uncontrolled release of pyrogens.
Researchers have discovered that there are several endogenous pyrogens, each made up of small groups of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
When these natural pyrogens, called cytokines, are injected into humans, fever and chills develop within an hour.