Concerning this point, we have recently reported that in HIV-infected patients with acute hepatitis C, the peak ALT levels positively correlated with the CD4/CD8 ratio, which is a biomarker of immunosenescence in HIV-infected adults.[17] These findings suggest that HBsAg clearance is associated with the immunological and liver conditions of HIV-infected patients. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is hepatitis C virus infection.