Effect of Chinese drugs for Pi strengthening Shen benefiting on the immunity function of HIV patients' specific T cells

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Chinese drugs for Pi strengthening Shen benefiting (CDPSSB) on the immunity function of HIV/AIDS patients' specific T cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 20 patients were randomly recruited from the treated group [treated by CDPSSB combined highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)] and 23 patients were randomly recruited from the control group (treated by HAART alone). All patients were follow-up infected persons form You'an Hospital between from June 2010 to June 2012. CD4+ T absolute counts and HIV viral load were detected. Meanwhile, HIV whole gene overlapping peptides were used as stimulating antigen. The response intensity of HIV specific T cells was detected in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no statistical difference in CD4 T absolute counts or HIV viral load between the two groups (P > 0.05). The response intensity of HIV specific T cells was significantly enhanced in the treated group, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Along with elongation of treatment time (6, 12, 18, and 24 months) in the treated group, the response intensity of HIV specific T cells showed enhancing tendency, but there was no statistical difference among these time points (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CDPSSB could enhance improve the immunity function of HIV specific T cells, which might be one of its mechanisms.</p>