ObjectiveTo observe effect of echinococcus cyst fluid on proliferation and cell cycle progression of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6), and to preliminarily reveal a new mechanisms of pro-fibrogenic effect of alveolar echinococcosis. MethodsHSC-T6 cells were treated with different concentrations (0.00-0.90 mg/mL) of echinococcus cyst fluid. Then, the morphological changes were observed under the inverted microscope, the impacts on proliferation and cell cycle were tested by the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry respectively. ResultsAfter treated by echinococcus cyst fluids with different concentrations (0.00-0.90 mg/mL) for 24 h, the most cells shrinked fusiform shape with more slender synapses, and the proliferation activities were increased with the concentration of echinococcus cyst fluid increasing when it was higher than 0.05 mg/mL (P<0.05), the proportion of G0/G1 was decreased (P<0.05) and those of S and G2/M were increased (P<0.05) with the concentration of echinococcus cyst fluid increasing. ConclusionsEchinococcus cyst fluid could promote proliferation of HSC-T6 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which might due to its impact on cell cycle progression. Therefore, alveolar echinococcosis might promote hepatic fibrosis through regulating hepatic stellate cells, but further research on detail needs to be done in future.