This invention relates to human
adipose tissue-derived multipotent adult stem cells. More particularly, the invention relates to human
adipose tissue-derived multipotent stem cells, which can be maintained in an undifferentiated state for a long period of time by forming spheres and have high proliferation rates, as well as methods for isolating and maintaining the adult stem cells, and methods for differentiating the multipotent adult stem cells into
nerve cells, fat cells,
cartilage cells, osteogenic cells and
insulin-releasing pancreatic beta-cells. Also, the invention relates to cellular therapeutic agents for treating
osteoarthritis,
osteoporosis and diabetes and for forming
breast tissue, which contain the differentiated cells or the adult stem cells. Although the multipotent stem cells are adult stem cells, they have the ability to differentiate into osteogenic cells,
nerve cells, astrocytes, fat cells, chrondrogenic cells or
insulin-releasing pancreatic beta-cells, and so are effective in treating
osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, nerve
disease, diabetes, etc. Also, the stem cells form spheres in a serum-
free medium containing
CORM-2, and thus can be maintained in an undifferentiated state for a long period of time. Also, the stem cells have very high proliferation rates. Accordingly, the stem cells are useful as cellular therapeutic agents.