['Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a pivotal role in liver fibrogenesis. Here, we studied whether the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) affected cultured HSC activation and apoptosis.', 'The effect of DFO on HSCs was investigated using quiescent and activated stellate cells.', 'Treatment with DFO inhibited HSC activation, resulting in the reduced expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin protein and type I procollagen, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and -2 mRNAs. DFO induced apoptosis of activated HSCs, which was associated with decreasing Bcl-2 expression and the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol with enhanced caspase-3 activity. DFO also induced activated HSCs to express peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma with the reaccumulation of intracellular lipids.'] Does the iron chelator deferoxamine cause activated hepatic stellate cells to become quiescent and to undergo apoptosis?