Final answer:
Cytotoxic T cells release perforins and granzymes to induce apoptosis in infected cells, a process that safely eliminates pathogens without spreading them to neighboring cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cytotoxic T cells play a critical role in the immune response by targeting and eliminating cells that are infected with pathogens. These cells release perforins and granzymes. Perforins are proteins that form pores in the plasma membrane of the target cell, allowing granzymes to enter. Once inside, granzymes, which are proteolytic enzymes, trigger a process known as apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death. Apoptosis is a controlled method of cellular destruction that safely eliminates the infected cells without releasing the harmful pathogens contained within them, which could potentially infect neighboring cells. Unlike simple lysis, which can cause the release and spread of the pathogens, apoptosis ensures that the contents of the dying cell are contained and subsequently removed by other immune cells.