Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) prolongs activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) but decreases tissue factor (TF)–mRNA before LPS infusion. Healthy male volunteers received rhAPC (24 μg/kg per hour for 8 hours; ▪) or placebo (○) intravenously starting 2 hours before LPS bolus infusion (2 ng/kg). rhAPC increased aPTT levels (top graph) by 20% (P < .001 between groups). rhAPC decreased only basal TF-mRNA (bottom graph) by – 32% (CI, – 49 to – 14%; *P < .05 between groups at 0 hour). P < .001 versus baseline in both groups; mean ± SEM.