We found that HIV infection induces a systemic depression in cGAPDH containing CD8+ T cells; however, this deficiency was at least countered in HIV-specific CD8+ T cells during early HIV-infected cART–naïve stage by having higher contents of cGAPDH and in HIV VCs by greater frequency of cGAPDH containing cells, suggesting some preservation of CD8+ T-cell function by enhancing glycolytic capacity during these clinical states. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is HIV infectious disease.