Which cytokine is primarily responsible for the fever response during inflammati
Practice Questions
Q1
Which cytokine is primarily responsible for the fever response during inflammation?
IL-1
TNF-alpha
IL-6
IFN-gamma
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which cytokine is primarily responsible for the fever response during inflammation?
Step 1: Understand what cytokines are. Cytokines are small proteins that help cells communicate during immune responses.
Step 2: Learn about inflammation. Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection, and it can cause symptoms like redness, swelling, and fever.
Step 3: Identify the role of IL-1. IL-1 is a specific type of cytokine that plays a significant role in the inflammatory response.
Step 4: Know where IL-1 acts. IL-1 travels through the bloodstream to the brain, specifically to an area called the hypothalamus.
Step 5: Understand the hypothalamus's function. The hypothalamus helps regulate body temperature.
Step 6: Connect IL-1 to fever. When IL-1 reaches the hypothalamus, it signals the body to raise its temperature, resulting in a fever.