PYROGENIC AND INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF CERTAIN BILE ACIDS IN MAN*

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Abstract
Nineteen free and conjugated bile acids were examined for pyrogenic properties in man. Of these, only lithocholic acid and its derivatives glycolithocholic acid, 3-acetyl lithocholic acid and 24-methyl lithocholic acid, consistently produced fever and inflammation after their intra-muscular injection. 6 mg of lithocholic acid produced fever and inflammation similar to that obtained with neutral steroid pyrogens. Hyodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid showed minimal pyrogenic activity. Taurolithocholic acid produced intense local inflammation without fever, indicating that non-specific inflammation does not explain the mechanism of steroid induced fever. The pyrogenic effects of bile acid conjugates differ significantly from previous results with pyrogenic neutral steroids and indicate that in vivo conjugation of steroid pyrogens does not necessarily inhibit their biological properties.