Immune Memory: the Basics and How to Trigger an Efficient Long-Term Immune Memory

Immunological memory consists of expanded clones of T and B lymphocytes that show an increased rate of cell division and shortened telomeres compared with naive cells. However, exhaustion of clones is delayed by kinetic heterogeneity within clones and altered survival and up-reulation of telomerase. Prolonged maintenance of protective B-cell immunity is T-cell dependent and requires a balance between plasma cells and memory B cells. Protective T-cell immunity also requires correct quality of T cells and that they are located appropriately. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.