Background : Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in most of the tissue matrix, taking part in their regeneration when injury or damage occurs. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of cells with pluripotential characteristics in human subchondral bone and the capacity of these cells to differentiate to osteoblast. Methods : Human subchondral bone were digested with collagenase. Isolated cells were cultured with a-MEM, 15% FBS, 10-8M dexamethasone and 50 ng/mL ascoric acid. Cells from 0 day(isolated cells), 7 day (first subculture) and 14 days (third subculture) were used to carry out phenotypic characterization experiments flowcytometry analysis with 11 monoclonal antibodies) and osteogenic differentiation experiments. Osteogenic differentiation of cells was assessment by quantification of bone extracellular matrix components by following analysis: alkaline phosphatase(ALP) stains to detect ALP activity, RT-PCR and western blot to detect osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN) and type I collagen(Col I), and Alizarin red stains to detect calcium deposition. Results : Flowcytometry analyses showed that in our population more than 98% of cells were positive for MSC markers: SH-2(CD105, 99%), CD29 (95%), CD73 (95%). Cells were negative for hematopoietic markers (CD11b, CD34, and CD45). Furthermore, cells showed positive stain to multipotent markers such as CDl17 (c-kit) (15.1%), and CD166 (74.9%), and cell adhesion molecules such as CD54 (78.1%) and CD106 (63.5%). The osteogenic specific marker analyses showed that the culture of these cells for 7 and 14 days stimulates ALP, OCN, OPN and Col I synthesis by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Also, after 14 days in the culture of MSCs induces mineralization by Arizarin red stain. Conclusion : In this work, we demonstrated a new and efficient method for osteoblastic differentiation of human subchondral bone stem cells. As MSCs takes part in reparative processes of adult tissues, these cells could play an important role in osteogenesis.