Adaptive immune responses play a critical role in the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.1 Strong and HCV‐specific CD8+ and CD4+ cellular immunity is indispensable for the spontaneous clearance of HCV infection, which is observed in 20%‐50% of patients with newly acquired infection but is rare in patients with an already established chronic infection.2, 3, 4, 5. Here, CD8A is linked to infection.