Objective CD8 + T cells play an important role in some viral diseases，but the role of CD8 + T cells is not yet fully clear in the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of CD8 + T cell in SHIV-infected monkeys with in vivo CD8 + T cells depletion，and to further understand the pathogenesis of AIDS. Methods Eight SHIV-infected rhesus monkeys in the asymptomatic phase were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Anti-CD8 + T antibody cM-T807 were injected intravenously into four monkeys on days 0，3，and 7. Then the CD8 + T cell number in peripheral blood and lymph nodes in the monkeys were detected by flow cytometry，the plasma viral load by real-time RT-PCR，and the cellular immunity by IFN-γ Elispot assay. Results The viral load of the four monkeys was elevated to above of detected after the CD8 + T cell depletion，but the reactions were not uniform. CD4 + T cells，the HIV-1 target cells，rebound and dropped slightly. The infection of monkeys with CD8 + T cell depletion was lighter than that after the SHIV virus first infection ( plasma viral load and CD4 cells) ，which was consistent with the Elispot results. Conclusions CD8 + T cells play an important role in the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection，but with some interindividual variation.