Methods for the efficient isolation and use of pluripotent adipose-derived stem cells (PASCs) are provided. In certain embodiments the methods involve providing an adipose tissue sample from which the stromal vascular fraction is co-cultured with the adipocyte fraction. PASCs can be isolated with a high degree of purification without requiring an additional cell enrichment process (e.g. cell sorting). PASCs and their conditioned media can be used for tissue regeneration within hours of harvesting the adipose tissue, and without requiring cell expansion. PASCs can grow as floating individual cells, as clusters of cells, or attached to surface(s) of the culture vessel. PASCs do not produce teratomas in vivo, nor do they induce immunorejection upon transplantation, and they achieve a high efficiency in grafting. The cells and compositions can be used for cell therapy and to screen new drugs.
