The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)-dependent fibrinolytic inhibition occurring in endotoxemia contributes to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Previous findings suggest that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) are responsible for the increase in the level of PAI-1. These observations usually arose from mild endotoxemia models. We analyzed the effect of FR167653, an inhibitor of the TNF-alpha/IL-1beta production, on the PAI-1 levels in rabbits given endotoxin at a dose sufficient to induce DIC: the steep plasma PAI-1 increase was not attenuated by FR167653, in spite of achieving efficient inhibition of the TNF-alpha production. No IL-1beta was detected during endotoxemia. These results suggest that PAI-1 increase might be independent of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. If these findings applied to humans, therapeutic intervention directing these cytokines would not be useful for the treatment of fibrinolysis in patients with severe sepsis.