Blood and immunity: acute phase response: practice question

A Physiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Physiology · Blood and immunity: acute phase response

Sample item

In a patient with sepsis, C-reactive protein and hepcidin rise sharply in the liver. Which cytokine is the main stimulus for this hepatic acute phase response?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Interleukin-6

Interleukin-6, released from macrophages and other cells in response to infection and tissue injury, acts on hepatocytes to increase acute phase proteins such as CRP, fibrinogen and hepcidin. Interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha also contribute.

Option by option

  • A. Interferon-gamma

    Interferon-gamma activates macrophages and does not primarily drive CRP production.

  • B. Interleukin-4

    Interleukin-4 directs Th2 differentiation and has no key role in CRP synthesis.

  • C. Interleukin-6 (correct)

    Correct. Interleukin-6 is the principal hepatic acute phase inducer.

  • D. Interleukin-2

    Interleukin-2 is the T-cell growth factor.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Physiology question

What is the answer to this Physiology question?

The best answer is C, Interleukin-6. Interleukin-6, released from macrophages and other cells in response to infection and tissue injury, acts on hepatocytes to increase acute phase proteins such as CRP, fibrinogen and hepcidin.

Why is "Interferon-gamma" not the answer?

Interferon-gamma activates macrophages and does not primarily drive CRP production.

Why is "Interleukin-4" not the answer?

Interleukin-4 directs Th2 differentiation and has no key role in CRP synthesis.

Why is "Interleukin-2" not the answer?

Interleukin-2 is the T-cell growth factor.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Blood and immunity: acute phase response in Physiology. Interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha also contribute.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Blood and immunity: acute phase response?

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.