Papulosquamous disorders: IL-12/23 inhibition in psoriasis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: IL-12/23 inhibition in psoriasis

Sample item

A patient with extensive plaque psoriasis is started on ustekinumab. Which cytokine subunit does this drug bind?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. The shared p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23

Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody against the common p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, blocking Th1 and Th17 pathways. Guselkumab and risankizumab bind only the p19 subunit of IL-23, secukinumab binds IL-17A, and infliximab and adalimumab bind TNF alpha.

Option by option

  • A. TNF alpha

    TNF alpha is bound by infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept.

  • B. The shared p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23 (correct)

    Correct. Ustekinumab targets p40, which is shared by IL-12 and IL-23.

  • C. The IL-17A cytokine itself

    Binding IL-17A is the mechanism of secukinumab and ixekizumab.

  • D. The p19 subunit of IL-23 only

    p19-specific IL-23 inhibitors are different drugs, such as guselkumab and risankizumab.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, The shared p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody against the common p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, blocking Th1 and Th17 pathways.

Why is "TNF alpha" not the answer?

TNF alpha is bound by infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept.

Why is "The IL-17A cytokine itself" not the answer?

Binding IL-17A is the mechanism of secukinumab and ixekizumab.

Why is "The p19 subunit of IL-23 only" not the answer?

p19-specific IL-23 inhibitors are different drugs, such as guselkumab and risankizumab.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: IL-12/23 inhibition in psoriasis in Dermatology. Guselkumab and risankizumab bind only the p19 subunit of IL-23, secukinumab binds IL-17A, and infliximab and adalimumab bind TNF alpha.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Papulosquamous disorders: IL-12/23 inhibition in psoriasis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.