immunminne

Immunminne is a concept in immunology describing the immune system’s memory of previous encounters with antigens, enabling faster and stronger responses upon re-exposure. It encompasses both humoral and cellular components, notably memory B cells, long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow, memory T cells, and tissue-resident memory T cells, as well as the regulatory processes that shape their formation and maintenance.

Mechanisms of immunminne begin with the primary immune response, in which B and T cells recognizing an antigen proliferate and differentiate. B cells undergo somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation in germinal centers, producing memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells that secrete high-affinity antibodies. Memory B cells persist for years and can rapidly re-engage upon re-encounter. Long-lived plasma cells provide sustained antibody levels. T cells form memory subsets, including central memory and effector memory populations, with tissue-resident memory cells stationed in barrier tissues. Upon re-exposure, immunminne enables accelerated clonal expansion, cytokine production, and, depending on the pathogen, swift antibody- and cytotoxic-mediated responses.

Clinical relevance and applications include vaccine design and booster strategies aimed at strengthening and prolonging immunminne, as well as immunotherapies that leverage memory-like T cell responses. Researchers monitor immunminne through serology, memory B and T cell assays, and functional recall tests.

Challenges include waning memory, antigenic drift, original antigenic sin, and potential dysregulation leading to autoimmunity. See also immune memory, germinal centers, and trained immunity.