The ability of Tc cells to induce apoptosis in infected or cancerous cells depends on their production of which proteins?

Tc cells, or cytotoxic T lymphocytes, play a critical role in the immune response by targeting and eliminating cells that are infected with viruses or have become cancerous. Their ability to induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in these affected cells hinges significantly on the proteins they produce during an immune response.

Granzyme and perforin are key proteins involved in this process. Perforin is responsible for creating pores in the membrane of the target cell. Once these pores are formed, granzyme, a serine protease, can enter the target cell through these pores. Granzyme triggers a cascade of events that leads to apoptosis. This action is essential for Tc cells to effectively clear out infected or malignant cells without causing undue damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Other options, while mentioning various immune components, do not adequately capture the specific mechanism by which Tc cells induce cell death. Thus, the production of granzyme and perforin is integral to the function of Tc cells in mounting an effective immune response against infected or cancerous cells.