OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the abnormal activation state and immune reconstitution in HIV-1 infected individuals.

METHODSCD4(+)T, CD8(+)T, CD8(+) CD38(+)T, CD8(+)HLADR(+)T and NK cell counts in the peripheral blood of 55 cases of HIV-1 infected individuals were measured by flow cytometry before and after HAART, and 30 healthy individuals served as controls.

RESULTCompared to healthy individuals, the CD4(+)T and NK cells decreased (P < 0.05) and CD8(+)T and CD8(+)HLADR(+)T cells increased significantly (P < 0.05) in HIV-1 infected individuals before HAART. After HAART, CD4(+)T and NK cells were recovered (P < 0.05), but still lower than normal (P < 0.05); CD4(+)T cell count in HIV-1 infected individuals remained stable at 1, 3 and 5 years after treatment, there were no significant differences among each groups; NK cell count had a downward trend with HAART (P < 0.05), there were statistical differences between 1-year and 5-year-HAART groups(P < 0.05). CD8(+)HLADR(+)T cells decreased promptly (P < 0.05), there were statistical differences between before and after HAART groups, 1-year and 5-year, 3-year and 5-year HAART groups (P < 0.05). CD8(+)CD38(+)T cells declined slowly, with no statistical differences amont each groups.

CONCLUSIONHAART can effectively reduce abnormal immune activation in HIV-1 infected individuals and achieve immune reconstitution to a certain degree.