Two days after major surgery, a patient has a sharply rising serum C-reactive protein. Which cytokine, acting mainly on hepatocytes, accounts for the increase in CRP and serum amyloid A?
- A Interleukin-6 ✓
- B Interleukin-17
- C Interleukin-12
- D Granulocyte colony stimulating factor
Correct answer: A. Interleukin-6
Explanation
IL-6 is the principal inducer of hepatic synthesis of CRP, serum amyloid C and fibrinogen, the classical acute phase reactants. IL-1 and TNF contribute indirectly but IL-6 is the dominant signal. Serial CRP is widely used to monitor inflammation and postoperative sepsis. IL-12 skews T cells toward Th1, IL-17 drives neutrophil recruitment, and G-CSF raises neutrophil counts rather than acute phase proteins.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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