What is the primary function of memory cells in the immune system?

The primary function of memory cells in the immune system is to remember previous infections. When the immune system encounters a pathogen for the first time, it mounts an adaptive response that includes the activation of T and B cells. Some of these activated cells become memory cells, which remain in the body long after the initial infection has resolved.

These memory cells are crucial because they enable a faster and more robust immune response if the same pathogen is encountered again in the future. Instead of starting from scratch, the immune system can quickly mobilize these memory cells to recognize and combat the pathogen more effectively. This ability to "remember" previous infections is what underlies the concept of immunity, whether from natural infection or vaccination.

While producing immediate antibodies and enhancing the innate immune response are important immune functions, they are not the role of memory cells. Similarly, preventing inflammation is not a function associated with memory cells, as inflammation is a broader aspect of the body's initial response to infection or injury.