CD8A and hepatocellular carcinoma: HCV-infected cells can promote the upregulation of TIM3 expression in CD8+ T cells by releasing exosomes, stimulating monocytes to secrete galectin 9.589 Additionally, chronic HCV infection may deplete IL-2-producing CD4+ T cells and increase suppressive CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and virus-specific, IL-10-producing CD8+ T cells, which may contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis.590,591 Viral escape mutations and HCV core proteins acting as immune evasion proteins, interfering with MHC I-dependent antigen presentation, may also play roles in HCV-related HCC immune evasion.