OBJECTIVE: To explore the pluripotential and possible clinical application of adult stem cells. METHODS: The original articles on adult stem cells were extensively reviewed and the recent advances were summed up. RESULTS: Adult stem cells were located at different tissues of human beings and had the pluripotentiality of self-renewal and differentiation. Some adult stem cells, such as in marrow, nerve, muscle, fat, skin, liver, tissues, had the ability to differentiate into the unrelated cell type. CONCLUSION: The pluripotential, ubiquitous distribution and plasticity of adult stem cells offered a new way in regeneration medicine, such as cell therapy and tissue engineering.