Final answer:
Pyrogens released from leukocytes upon bacterial destruction lead to fever by resetting the body's thermostat via the hypothalamus, as part of the inflammatory response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pyrogens signaling hepatocytes to make and secrete acute-phase reactants leads to fever.
When bacteria are destroyed by leukocytes, pyrogens are released into the blood. These pyrogens circulate to the hypothalamus and reset the body's thermostat to a higher temperature, resulting in fever. This is an example of the body's inflammatory response to infection, intended to make the body's environment less hospitable to pathogens.