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

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What physiological response is primarily associated with IL-1?

Inflammation
Fever
Allergic reaction
T-cell proliferation

The correct answer is: Fever

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a significant role in the immune response, particularly in relation to fever. When released by macrophages and other cells in response to infections or inflammatory stimuli, IL-1 acts on the hypothalamus to raise the body temperature. This fever response is a crucial aspect of the body's defense mechanism, as elevated temperatures can enhance immune function and inhibit pathogen growth. While IL-1 is certainly involved in promoting inflammation, its most defining and immediate effect is the induction of fever through its action on the hypothalamus. This connection makes fever the primary physiological response associated with IL-1. Other responses, such as T-cell proliferation and allergic reactions, are typically mediated by different cytokines or immune pathways, indicating that these processes are not primarily driven by IL-1.