In this peculiar group of pHIVy (virologically suppressed for several years despite lifelong HIV infection, with high frequency of past AIDS events, past long periods without cART and in the presence of widespread CMV infection) the number of TRECs and KRECs or TL levels were comparable to that of age-matched young adults with recent sexually acquired HIV-infection, although pHIVy showed higher CD8+ cells and lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Here, CD8A is linked to AIDS.