{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T16:59:43Z","timestamp":1791910783938,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":64,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739923200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Vaccines"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Memory cells are central to the adaptive immune system\u2019s ability to remember and respond effectively to previously encountered pathogens. While memory cells provide robust protection against infections, they can also contribute to autoimmunity when regulation fails. Here, we review the roles of memory T and B cells in infection and autoimmunity, focusing on their differentiation, activation, effector functions, and underlying regulatory mechanisms. We elaborate on the precise mechanisms by which memory cells contribute to autoimmune diseases, highlighting insights from current research on how pathogenic memory responses are formed and sustained in autoimmunity. Finally, we explore potential therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating memory cells to prevent or treat autoimmune disorders, including B cell-depleting therapies (e.g., Rituximab), T cell-targeting agents (e.g., Abatacept), and cytokine inhibitors (e.g., IL-17 or IL-23 blockers) that are currently used in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines13020205","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T05:34:26Z","timestamp":1739943266000},"page":"205","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":28,"title":["Memory Cells in Infection and Autoimmunity: Mechanisms, Functions, and Therapeutic Implications"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Shilpi","family":"Giri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4375-9004","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lalit","family":"Batra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefence and Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40222, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.iy.09.040191.001205","article-title":"Memory B and T cells","volume":"9","author":"Vitetta","year":"1991","journal-title":"Annu. 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