Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between inflammation factors of Kupffer cells and hepatic cancer stem cell markers.Methods 35 male SD rats were divided randomly into two groups:normal group (5 rats)and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced groups (30 rats).DEN-in-duced groups were given DEN solution in drinking water,while normal group was given normal water. 5 rats of DEN-induced group were sacrificed every 4 weeks,then immunohistochemisty was taken to e-valuate the ED2 expression of Kupffer cells,and the expressions of inflammation factors and hepatic cancer stem cell markers were measured by rt-PCR.Correlation between inflammation factors and he-patic cancer stem cell markers was evaluated by Pearson analysis.Results The HCC model was suc-cessfully established at 24 weeks.Expressions of ED2 gradually increased (P <0.001 ).The rt-PCR results indicated that the expressions of IL-6、MCP-1、TGF-βand TNF-αgradually increased during hepatocarcinogenesis (P <0 .0 5 ),while CD90 expressed a significant increasing in the process (P <0 .00 1 ).Pearson analysis showed CD90 was positively correlated with IL -6 、MCP -1 and TGF -β(P <0.001).Conclusion There is a significant correlation between the increase expressions of IL-6、MCP-1、TGF-βand the up-regulation of CD90 ,which can demonstrate the essential role of Kupffer cells during hepatocarcinogenesis.