ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) to HIV in nosocomial HIV infected individuals, and reveal the relationship between the CNAR and CD4+ cell count.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>CD8+ cells from HIV-1 sero-positive individuals were separated by immunomagnetic beads and mixed with CD4+ cells at different CD8 CD4 cell input ratios (2:1, 1:1, 0.5:1 and 0.25:1). Reverse transcriptase (RT) activity of cocultured supernatant was tested and compared with negative control and the suppression rate of HIV-1 replication was measured.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The average CD8:CD4 cell input ratios to reach 80% suppression of HIV replication in the group with CD4 < 300/microl and CD4 > 300/microl were 2.4:1 and 1.3:1, respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CNAR activity in HIV infected individuals is associated with CD4+ cell count. The ability to suppress HIV replication in subjects with CD4 > 300 is stronger than those with CD4 < 300.</p>