Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a group of nonparenchymal cells of liver, and play an important role in lipid, especially vitamin Astoring, extracellular matrix synthesis, microcirculation regulation of hepatic sinusoid, etc. They are also closely related to lots of liver diseases, e. g. hepatofibrosis. In this review, the latest research advance on HSCs including their isolation, identification, proliferation and regulation, and role in liver regeneration, hepatofibrosis, and so on is summarized.