Abstract: Objective To study immunological changes in HIV-1 infected Chinese patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HARRT).Methods HIV-1 viral load (VL),numbers of CD3⁺CD4⁺,CD3⁺CD8⁺,CD4⁺CD45RA⁺CD62L⁺,CD4⁺CD45RO⁺,CD8⁺CD38⁺,CD4⁺CD28⁺,CD8⁺CD28⁺ T lymphocytes and plasma soluble CD27 (sCD27) were measured in 37 HIV-1-infected patients who were given three drug-regimens based on two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and an non-NRTI (NNRTI) for 1 year,at the baseline and 12,24 and 48 weeks after starting treatment,respectively.Results It was shown that the change of HIV-1 VL had a significantly negative correlation with CD3⁺CD4⁺ cell count,CD4⁺CD28⁺ and CD8⁺CD28⁺ cell counts and percentages,but a positive correlation with the cell count and percentage of CD8⁺CD38⁺,and the level of sCD27.The above parameters all showed more significant changes in the full responders,who showed good response to the anti-viral therapy,than in the partial responders with a rather bad response.Conelusion CD8⁺CD38⁺,CD4⁺CD28⁺ and CD8⁺CD28⁺ cell counts and their percentages,as well as the levels of sCD27 may be effective parameters in predicting AIDS progress and prognosis,and monitoring antiretroviral effects and immunologic response.

Key words: HIV-1, HIV infections, Antiretroviral therapy,highly active, Antigens,CD27, Antigens,CD38, Antigens,CD28