Final answer:
The three signals required to differentiate into a CTL are antigen recognition, co-stimulation, and cytokine signaling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three signals required to differentiate into a CTL are antigen recognition, co-stimulation, and cytokine signaling.
In order to differentiate into cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), T cells require three signals:
- Signal 1: Antigen recognition by the T-cell receptor (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule.
- Signal 2: Co-stimulation, which involves the interaction between co-stimulatory molecules on the antigen-presenting cell (APC) and co-stimulatory receptors on the T cell.
- Signal 3: Cytokines, which are secreted by the APC and other immune cells, and help drive the differentiation of the T cell into a CTL.
These three signals are necessary for the activation and differentiation of T cells into CTLs, which play a crucial role in killing infected cells and cancer cells.