Adipose tissue is a biologically active component of human body. Besides fat deposition and participating in body contouring, it is one of the key component of thermoregulation, important element of immune regulation. Adipose tissue produces numerous biologically active molecules. Moreover, adipose tissue is a dynamically functioning endocrine organ releasing various hormones. Some of these hormones directly interact with hypothalamus. Adipose derived stem cells are characterized by advanced differentiation potential with possible differentiation into chondrogenic, neurogenic, osteogenic, myogenic, cardiogenic, vascular, endocrine, hepatic, or haematopoietic cells. These features of adipose derived stem cells open good perspectives for their using with cosmetic and reconstructive indications. Adipose tissue availability for harvesting makes it a perspective substrate for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Keywords. adipose tissue, stem cells, regenerative medicine