Abstract: Objective: To determine the effect of early latent syphilis infection on the level of Caspase-1/3 in CD4+T and CD8+T cells in patients with HIV-infected. Methods: The level of Caspase-1, the sign of pyroptosis, and Caspase-3, the sign of apoptosis, in CD4+T and CD8+T cells of 18 patients with early latent syphilis combined with HIV-infected (co-infected group) and 18 patients with chronic HIV infection (HIV group) was detected by flow cytometry. Then the level of Caspase-1/3 in CD4+T and CD8+T cells in the co-infected group after 6 months treatment of syphilis was detected. Results: Compared with HIV group, the level of Caspase-1 in CD4+T cells and CD8+T cells in the co-infected group was higher than that in the HIV group, with significant differences (Ps<0.05), and there was no significant difference of Caspase-3 between the two group (Ps＞0.05). After 6-month-treatment of syphilis, the level of Caspase-3 in CD4+T cells and CD8+T cells decreased in the co-infected group compared with that before treatment, with significant differences (Ps<0.05), and there was no significant differences of the Caspase-1 level before and after treatment (Ps＞0.05). Conclusion: Treponema pallidum infection may affect the pyroptosis and apoptosis of CD4+T and CD8+T lymphocytes in patients with HIV.

Key words: syphilis with HIV co-infection, CD4, CD8, Caspase-1, Caspase-3