B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1 (PMAIP1), and caspase 1 (CASP1) in CD4+ T-cells and immediate early response 3 (IER3) and BCL2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1) in CD8+ T-cells from CHC patients are identified as HCV-specific gene signatures. Here, CD8A is linked to cryohydrocytosis.