muistiBsoluja

Muistisoluja, often translated as "memory cells," are a crucial component of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates. These cells are long-lived lymphocytes that arise from B cells and T cells during an initial immune response to a specific antigen. Their primary function is to provide immunological memory, enabling a faster and more robust response upon subsequent encounters with the same antigen.

Upon initial exposure to a pathogen or foreign substance, some activated B and T lymphocytes differentiate into memory cells. These memory cells do not typically participate in the primary immune response but instead circulate throughout the body, residing in lymphoid organs and tissues. They are essentially primed and waiting for a second encounter with the antigen that triggered their formation.

When the same antigen is encountered again, memory B cells can rapidly differentiate into plasma cells, producing high levels of antibodies. Memory T cells, on the other hand, can quickly proliferate and mount cytotoxic or helper T cell responses. This secondary immune response is significantly quicker, stronger, and more effective than the primary response, often preventing illness or significantly reducing its severity. This principle of immunological memory is the basis for vaccination.