Activation　of　hepatic　stellate　cells　(HSCs)　plays　a　pivotal　role　in　the　development　of　liver　fibrosis.　C1q/tumor　necrosis　factor-related　protein　3　(CTRP3),　a　member　of　CTRPs,　was　involved　in　fibrosis.　However,　little　is　known　about　the　role　of　CTRP3　in　liver　fibrosis.　This　study　aimed　to　determine　its　role　in　liver　fibrosis　and　explore　the　possible　mechanism.　Our　results　demonstrated　that　CTRP3　was　lowly　expressed　in　liver　fibrosis　tissues　and　activated　HSCs.　Overexpression　of　CTRP3　inhibited　the　proliferation　and　migration　of　HSCs,　as　well　as　suppressed　the　expression　of　extracellular　matrix　(ECM)　in　transforming　growth　factor-beta　1　(TGF-beta　1)-stimulated　HSC-T6　cells.　Furthermore,　CTRP3　overexpression　greatly　inhibited　the　expression　level　of　phosphorylation　of　Smad3　in　TGF-beta　1-stimulated　HSC-T6　cells.　In　conclusion,　the　present　study　demonstrated　that　CTRP3　inhibited　the　proliferation　and　migration　of　TGF-beta　1-induced　HSC-T6　cells　and　attenuated　liver　fibrosis,　at　least　in　part,　through　inhibiting　the　Smad　signaling　pathway.　These　findings　suggest　that　CTRP3　may　be　a　promising　therapeutic　target　for　the　treatment　of　liver　fibrosis.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Masson　SAS.　All　rights　reserved.