RESUMO
[Objective] To investigate the effect of ATA, a herbal medicine compound, for the treatment of the chronic infection of simian immunodeficiency virus ( SIV) in monkeys. [ Methods ] Eight Rhesus monkeys were infected with SIVmac251 to establish monkey models with chronic infection of SIV. After 18 months, the monkeys were randomized into model group and ATA group, administered with saline and ATA 2 g?kg-1?d-1 for 56 days respectively. The changes of signs were observed, plasma levels of T-lymphocyte subsets CD4+ and CD8+ were detected by flow cytometry and the lymph node biopsy were observed under light microscope before and after treatment. [Results] After treatment, the body weight increased and the incidence of infective diarrhea decreased in ATA group, the difference being insignificant. ATA had no obvious effect on white blood cells counting and the replication number of plasma SIV, but increased the plasma levels of T-lymphocyte subsets CD4+ and CD8+(P