Muistosolut

Muistosolut, or memory cells in English, are a crucial component of the adaptive immune system. They are long-lived lymphocytes that are formed after an initial encounter with a specific antigen. Unlike the effector cells that fight off an infection, memory cells do not actively participate in the primary immune response. Instead, their role is to "remember" the antigen and mount a much faster and stronger response upon subsequent exposures to the same pathogen or foreign substance.

These cells exist in two main types: memory B cells and memory T cells. Memory B cells are responsible for the rapid production of high-affinity antibodies when re-exposed to an antigen. Memory T cells, on the other hand, can be helper T cells that enhance the immune response or cytotoxic T cells that directly kill infected cells.

The formation of memory cells is the basis of vaccination. Vaccines introduce a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen, or specific antigens from it, to the body without causing disease. This exposure triggers the development of memory cells, so if the individual later encounters the actual pathogen, their immune system can quickly and effectively neutralize it, preventing illness. The persistence of memory cells can last for years, or even a lifetime, providing long-term immunity.