【Objective】To investigate whether hepatic stellate cells (HSC) inhibit the proliferation of T cells through the induction of CD8+CD28-T lymphocytes.【Methods】 CD3+ T cells were sorted by flow cytometry and labeled by 5

6- carboxyfluoresceindiacetate

s uccinimidyl ester (CFSE)

then they were co-cultured with human hepatic stellate cells cell line LX2 in the present of PHA for 72 h. The proliferation of T cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. In order to study the mechanism of the inhibition of T cells by hepatic stellate cells

purified CD3+ T cells were co-cultured with LX2 for 3 days

and the percentage of CD8+CD28-T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Furthermore

after CD3+ T cells were co-cultured with LX2 cells for 3 days

CD8+CD28-T cells were sorted by flow cytometry. Then purified CD8+CD28-T cells were co-cultured with CFSE labeled CD3+ T cells

and the proliferation of T cells was evaluated after stimulated with PHA for 72 h. 【Results】T cell proliferation was inhibited obviously after co-cultured with LX2 cells. The inhibitory effect was dose dependent. LX2 cells dose-dependently increased the percentage of CD8+CD28-T cells.CD8+CD28-T cells

which cultured with LX2 cells

obviously inhibited the proliferation of T cells. 【Conclusion】 HSC inhibited the T cell proliferation through the induction of CD8+CD28-T regulatory cells.