WBR0680
| Author | [[PageAuthor::Rim Halaby, M.D. [1]]] |
|---|---|
| Exam Type | ExamType::USMLE Step 1 |
| Main Category | MainCategory::Immunology |
| Sub Category | SubCategory::Infectious Disease |
| Prompt | [[Prompt::A 24 year old male patient, with no past medical history, presents to the emergency department (ED) complaining of abdominal pain and watery diarrhea of several days duration. The patient is found to have amebic cysts on stool analysis. Which of the following cytokines is most likely activated in this patient's condition?]] |
| Answer A | AnswerA::IL-8 |
| Answer A Explanation | AnswerAExp::IL-8 is a chemotactic factor for neutrophils. |
| Answer B | AnswerB::IL-2 |
| Answer B Explanation | AnswerBExp::IL-2 stimulates growth of helper, cytotoxic, and regulatory T cells. |
| Answer C | AnswerC::IL-4 |
| Answer C Explanation | AnswerCExp::IL-4 induces differentiation into Th2 cells and growth of B cells. It also enhances class switching into IgE |
| Answer D | AnswerD::IL-5 |
| Answer D Explanation | AnswerDExp::IL-5 is activated to promote differentiation of B cells. It allows class switching into IgA and allows growth and differentiation of eosinophils. |
| Answer E | AnswerE::IL-10 |
| Answer E Explanation | AnswerEExp::IL-10 is secreted by Treg cells and is activated in inhibit inflammation. |
| Right Answer | RightAnswer::D |
| Explanation | [[Explanation::The patient is presenting with a parasitic infection. In this case, the patient is expected to have eosinophilia due to the main role eosinophils play in parasitic infections with the use of major basic protein and peroxidase. Eosinophils are induced to grow and to differentiate by specific cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-5. Other cytokines play different pro-inflammatory roles, such as IL-8 in neutrophil chemotaxis and IL-4 in differentiation into Th2 cells, whereas others have anti-inflammatory roles, such as IL-10 and TGF-beta that are secreted by Treg cells.
Educational Objective:
IL-5 is activated in parasitic infections to enhance growth and differentiation of eosinophils. |
| Approved | Approved::No |
| Keyword | WBRKeyword::eosinophil, WBRKeyword::eosinophilia, WBRKeyword::eosinophils, WBRKeyword::major, WBRKeyword::basic, WBRKeyword::protein, WBRKeyword::peroxidase, WBRKeyword::amoebiasis, WBRKeyword::amebiasis, WBRKeyword::entamoeba, WBRKeyword::histolytica, WBRKeyword::gastroenteritis, WBRKeyword::parasitic, WBRKeyword::interleukin, WBRKeyword::5, WBRKeyword::IL-5, WBRKeyword::IL5 |
| Linked Question | Linked:: |
| Order in Linked Questions | LinkedOrder:: |