Effects of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) on endotoxin (LPS)–induced cytokine release. Healthy male volunteers received rhAPC (24 μg/kg per hour for 8 hours; ▪) or placebo (○) intravenously starting 2 hours before LPS challenge (2 ng/kg). rhAPC did not significantly reduce LPS-induced inflammation: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α; top graph) or interleukin-6 (IL-6; bottom graph) levels. P < .001 versus baseline for both groups, and P = ns between groups; mean ± SEM.