OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of several xenobiotic metabolism-associated CYP450 isoforms in the auto-activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) invitro. METHODS HSCs were isolated from adult Wistar rats and cultured on plastic as an in vitroauto-activation model. Positive expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)was used as an activated marker of HSCs and detected by immunocytochemical staining in HSCs cultured for 1,2,5 or 11 d. The expressions of CYP450 isoforms were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR in the HSCs. RESULTS The immunocytochemical stai-ning showed no α-SMA expression in HSCs cultured for 1 d,while its expression gradually increased during culture since day 2. ln terms of α-SMA expression,HSCs cultured for 1,2,5,and 11 d were classified as the quiescent,early,middle and later stages of activation,respectively. The RT-PCR results revealed that CYP1B1,CYP2B1/ 2,and CYP2E1 mRNA were expressed at high levels in the early stage of HSCs activation(at day 2),which were 2.1-,1.6-,and 23.9-fold those in the quiescent HSCs(day 1),respectively. Further study revealed that mRNA expressions of these up-regulated CYPs in the early stage of activation were diminished at the subsequent two stages. The levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNA decreased constantly throughtout the activation process. CONCLUSION Multiple xenobi-otic metabolism-associated CYP450 isoforms might be involved in the auto-activation of rat HSCs invitro.