cd8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes kill target cells as a result of

CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes kill target cells primarily through a two-pronged attack:

Perforin and Granzymes: The CD8+ T cell releases perforin, a protein that punches holes in the target cell’s membrane. This creates an entry point for granzymes, another set of proteins released by the CD8+ T cell. Granzymes act like enzymes once inside the target cell, triggering programmed cell death (apoptosis).

Fas-Fas Ligand pathway: In some cases, the CD8+ T cell expresses a molecule called Fas ligand on its surface. The target cell may have Fas receptors. When Fas ligand binds to Fas receptor, it activates a different cell death pathway within the target cell, again leading to apoptosis.