Enormous expectations are associated with stem cells with regard to cell therapy and tissue engineering. Stem cells have unlimited potential for self-renewal and develop into various cell types. For the mesodermal tissue engineering such a source of cells is the bone marrow stroma. However, isolation of the bone marrow requires general or spinal anesthesia and yields low number of mesodermal stem cells (MSCs) upon processing (1 MSC per 105 adherent stromal cells). An alternative source of autologous stem cells seems to be, apart from bone marrow: periosteum, muscular tissue or synovial membrane and adipose tissue. The adipose tissue is derived from the embryonic mesenchyme, contains a large number of stromal stem cells and is relatively easy to obtain in large quantities. It covers a widespread area of human body, and can be classified as white and brown adipose tissue in terms of location and function. Specimens of the adipose tissue are usually obtained from elective, laparoscopic or liposuction surgeries. Stromal stem cells, isolated from this tissue, exhibit characteristics common to mesodermal tissues, including: adherence to plastic, formation of fibroblastic- like colonies, extensive proliferative capacity, ability to differentiate into several mesodermal lineages (including bone, cartilage, muscle and fat), and expression of several common cell surface antigens. Recent evidence suggest that these cells can also form non-mesodermal tissues--neuron-like cells. The aim of this publication is to describe the application of the adipose tissue as a source of mesenchymal stem cells based on current literature data.