CD8A and hepatocellular carcinoma: In 1998, Nakamoto et al. (35, 36) demonstrated that HBsAg-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) constantly attacked HBsAg-expressing hepatocytes, eventually triggering HCC in HBV transgenic mice via thymectomy, bone marrow reconstruction and adoptive transfer of splenic HBsAg-specific CD8+ T cells from HBsAg-immunized mice.