Our findings revealed that CMV-specific cells display a cytotoxic profile, with overexpression of granzyme B, and pro-inflammatory features, such as overexpression of the dendritic cell chemoattractants XCL1 and XCL2 in cHCV patients, suggesting that CMV-specific CD8+ T cells may become activated during a current HCV infection and contribute to liver disease progression, especially in cases of HCV and CMV co-infection. The gene discussed is XCL2; the disease is infection.