Human pluripotent stem cells which are isolated from cut human umbilical cord or placenta and characteristic of cell surface marker CD 151+, OCT4+ and CD 184-, can adhere to tissue culture plastic and have the potential to differentiate into three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Methods of isolating, purifying and culturally expanding of a population of human pluripotent stem cells and uses for treating diseases caused by cell damage or cell aging, and as a kind of carrier cells in gene therapy are provided.
