The higher expression levels found for activation-induced cytidine deaminase, together with other genes, indicates that these B lymphomagenesis-related genes are upregulated following HCV therapy and this is more marked when HCV can be detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This according to a study of 83 patients with HCV who achieved a sustained virological response (27 with detectable HCV RNA and 56 without), 28 patients with chronic HCV, and 32 healthy controls. Researchers found:

• Patients with chronic HCV and those who achieved an SVR showed a statistically significant higher expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, B-aggressive lymphoma, and cyclin D1 vs healthy controls.

• Patients with activation-induced cytidine deaminase, an SVR, and occult infection had a statistically significant higher expression level than patients with an SVR but without occult infection.

Citation: Cuéllar MCR, García-Lozano JR, Sánchez B, et al. Lymphomagenesis-related gene expression in B cells from sustained virological responders with occult hepatitis C virus infection. [Published online ahead of print March 4, 2016]. J Viral Hepat. doi:10.1111/jvh.12526.