Question

What is immune memory and how does it involve lymphocytes?

Answer 1

Immunological memory: The ability of the immune system to quickly recognize and mount an immune response to a previously encountered antigen. It is responsible for the adaptive component of the immune system. Vaccination is based on the principle of immunological memory. Upon exposure to an antigen for the first time, effector cells and memory cells are produced. Effector cells are removed after the neutralization of the antigen. However, memory cells are maintained in the body for a long time. These cells are rapidly activated to produce secondary immune response upon subsequent antigen exposures.

Memory B-cells and T-cells are involved in immunological memory.
Memory B-cells undergo clonal expansion and affinity maturation. They are able to rapidly divide and produce antibodies with much higher affinity.

Memory T-cells can be CD8+ or CD4+. They do not require further signaling by MHC proteins for stimulation. CCR7- T-cells (TEM cells) rapidly migrate to the site of inflammation and function as immediate effector cell populations. CCR7+ T-cells (TCM cells) stimulate dendritic cells.