Differentiation of memory B and T cells

In the past few years progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie the initial generation, and the ensuing differentiation and maintenance, of humoral and cellular immunity. Although B and T cell immunological memory contribute to protective immunity through fundamentally distinct effector functions, interesting analogies are becoming apparent between the two memory compartments. These include heterogeneity in function, anatomical location and phenotype, which probably relate to differential environmental cues during the early priming events as well as the later differentiation phases. Detailed definition of the molecular and cellular signals involved in the development of immunological memory, and the relative contributions of different memory subsets to protective immunity, remains an important goal.