Aim To investigate some biological characteristics of similarities and differences of endothelial progenitor cells from human peripheral blood,umbilical cord blood and adipose tissue and provide the evidences for efficacious applications of endothelial progenitor cells on different adaptive scopes,ways and methods. Methods Mononuclear cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood using a Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation.Adipose tissue-derived stem cells were isolated from the adipose tissue by trypsin digestion.The collected cells were cultured.The cell morphology was observed and the cultured cells were identified at the seventh day.The proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor cells were measured by MTT and Boyden chamber assay.The adhesion function and vasculogenesis activity in vitro of endothelial progenitor cells were analyzed by adhesion assay and in vitro vasculogenesis kit. Results All differentiation cells were identified as endothelial progenitor cells.Endothelial progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood were revealed superior in proliferation,migration,adhesion and vasculogenesis activity(P<0.05).The proliferation and vasculogenesis activity of endothelial progenitor cells from adipose tissue were more powerful than those of endothelial progenitor cells from adult peripheral blood(P<0.05). Conclusion Endothelial progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood may be more suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplantation.Endothelial progenitor cellsfrom adipose tissue may exhibit potential applications in autologous stem cell transplantation for ischemic disease.