Human mesenchymal stem cells as a model system:

human multipotent adipose-derived stem (hMADS) cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells are thought to be multipotent cells. They can replicate as undifferentiated cells and have the potential to differentiate to lineages of mesenchymal tissues, including bone, cartilage, fat, tendon, muscle, and marrow stroma. The human adipose tissue is a source of multipotent stem cells. Multipotent stem cells constitute an unlimited source of undifferentiated cells that could be used in pharmacological studies and in medicine. Recently, several publications have reported that adipose tissue contains a population of cells able to differentiate into different cell types including adipocytes, osteoblasts, myoblasts, and chondroblasts. More recently, stem cells with a multi-lineage potential at the single cell level have been isolated from human adipose tissue. These cells, called human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem (hMADS) cells, have been established in culture and interestingly, maintain their characteristics with long-term passaging. hMADS cells were shown to differentiate into adipose cells in serum-free, chemically defined medium.

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Rodriguez AM, Elabd C, Amri EZ, Ailhaud G, Dani C (2005). The human adipose tissue is a source of multipotent stem cells. Biochimie 87:125-128.