B cells expressing mutated IGHV1-69-encoded antigen receptors related to virus neutralization show lymphoma-like transcriptomes in patients with chronic HCV infection.

We provide evidence that lymphoma-like cells derive from the anti-HCV immune response. In many patients, these cells persist for years after SVR and can be interpreted as a mechanistic basis for HCV-related B cell dyscrasias and increased lymphoma risk even beyond viral elimination.