title: Memory B and T cells.
abstract: Three remarkable and unique features of the immune system are specificity, diversity, and memory. Immunological memory involves both T and B cells and results in a secondary antibody response that is faster, of higher affinity, and results in the secretion of non-IgM isotypes of Ig. In this review we discuss the properties of memory T and B cells, their specific receptors, and the events which occur both in the nucleus and on the cell surface during generation and activation of these cells. Although memory T and B cells use different mechanisms to elaborate memory, there are a number of interesting analogies: lymphokines vs antibodies and affinity maturation of B cell antigen receptors vs upregulation of adhesion molecules on T cells. Finally, we discuss the importance of these cells in health and disease and suggest what impact additional information about these cells might have on the manipulation of the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Vitetta
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kepron
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation