Let’s face it — memorizing interleukins for USMLE or FCPS exams is like trying to learn the names of all your cousin’s kids at a family wedding. Everyone’s screaming, half of them look alike, and you end up faking it.
So here’s a juicy mnemonic that helped me survive MRCP prep without sacrificing my remaining neurons:
HOT T-Bone stEAK
🧠 No need to grill your brain — here’s the table that breaks it all down:
Mnemonic for Important Interleukin Cytokines: Hot T-Bone stEAK
| Interleukin | Function | Mnemonic Cue |
|---|---|---|
| IL-1 | Causes fever | HOT |
| IL-2 | Stimulates T-cells | T |
| IL-3 | Stimulates bone marrow (myeloid lineages) | BONE |
| IL-4 | Stimulates IgE production | stE → IgE |
| IL-5 | Stimulates IgA, eosinophils | A → IgA |
| IL-6 | Triggers aKute-phase reactants | K in aKute phase |
Note: The spelling is sketchy on purpose — just like our coffee-fueled memory hacks during 30-hour on-calls duties. 😅
🏥 Real Talk from the Wards
During an ID consult at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital, a young man presented with high-grade fever and joint pains. Rheumatology suspected Still’s disease. CRP and ferritin were sky-high, and the immunologist quipped, “This has IL-1 written all over it.”
And there it was — IL-1 → HOT → fever central.
The mnemonic popped into my head like a well-cooked steak off the grill. 🍳 That’s when I realized: mnemonics aren’t just exam fluff — they help you think faster in real time.
🧬 Clinical Nuggets for the IL Nerd in You
- IL-1: Pro-inflammatory, pyrogenic. Secreted by macrophages. Also activates endothelium.
- IL-2: Secreted by T-cells for more T-cells — classic positive feedback (like your mom hyping you up after finals).
- IL-3: Multi-lineage hematopoiesis. Think of it as the stem cell’s caffeine shot ☕
- IL-4 & IL-5: From Th2 cells. IgE = allergy, IgA = mucosal defense. Great for MCQs.
- IL-6: Liver’s bestie. Major driver of acute-phase reactants like CRP, fibrinogen. Elevated in chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions.
Happy learning folk! 🙂
📚 Written by:
Dr. Aurangzaib Qambrani
MBBS, PLAB, MRCP-UK
General Medicine, Gastroenterology & CCU
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital, Quetta
