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Background Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by natural killer (NK) cells plays a critical role in HIV-1 infection. As a novel subset of dendritic cells (DCs), 6-sulfo LacNAc-expressing DCs (slanDCs) also express CD16. However, the levels of slanDC-mediated ADCC during HIV-1 infection are not well addressed. Methods Forty-five HIV-1-infected subjects were enrolled and 19 HIV-1 negative individuals were used as healthy controls (HCs). The complex of gp120 and anti-gp120 was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the level of TNF-alpha secreted by slanDCs was detected using intercellular staining of flow cytometer. Results The counts of slanDCs in HIV-1-infected and treatment naive patients were significantly lower than those of HCs and those receiving anti-retrovirus therapy (ART) (P=0.0331, P Conclusion The slanDC-medated ADCC existed in HIV-1-infected patients and the level could be enhanced by ART, suggesting an alternative pathway involved in ADCC in HIV-1 infection. Disclosure No significant relationships.