American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

What effect does IL-10 have on inflammation?

1. Increases acute phase proteins

2. Promotes PMN chemotaxis

3. Decreases inflammatory response

4. Activates macrophages

The correct answer is: Decreases inflammatory response

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that plays a critical role in regulating the immune response, particularly in its ability to inhibit inflammation. It is considered an anti-inflammatory cytokine and functions to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, effectively reducing the inflammatory response. IL-10 achieves this by inhibiting the activation of macrophages and dendritic cells, thereby dampening their production of other inflammatory mediators. This is particularly important in maintaining homeostasis in the immune system and preventing excessive inflammation, which can lead to tissue damage and chronic inflammatory diseases. The understanding of IL-10’s role in decreasing the inflammatory response is integral to developing therapeutic strategies aimed at treating inflammatory conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and allergies. Thus, the selection of this answer highlights the essential regulatory function of IL-10 in the inflammatory process.