Nayak A, Sahoo G, Nishank SS. Letter to the Editor: Advancing induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells - insights from comparative differentiation protocols and emerging innovations. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(5): 115940 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i5.115940]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Abinash Nayak, Academic Fellow, Research Fellow, Researcher, Post-Graduate Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneshwar 751004, Odisha, India. abinashnayakzoology@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Article-Type of This Article
Correspondence
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World J Stem Cells. May 26, 2026; 18(5): 115940 Published online May 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i5.115940
Letter to the Editor: Advancing induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells - insights from comparative differentiation protocols and emerging innovations
Abinash Nayak, Gunanidhi Sahoo, Post-Graduate Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar 751004, Odisha, India
Sudhansu Sekhar Nishank, Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar 751004, Odisha, India
Co-corresponding authors: Abinash Nayak and Sudhansu Sekhar Nishank.
Author contributions: Nayak A performed literature review, collection and drafting of the manuscript; Sahoo G and Nishank SS revised the manuscript. Nayak A and Nishank SS contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-corresponding authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Abinash Nayak, Academic Fellow, Research Fellow, Researcher, Post-Graduate Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneshwar 751004, Odisha, India. abinashnayakzoology@gmail.com
Received: October 29, 2025 Revised: November 19, 2025 Accepted: January 8, 2026 Published online: May 26, 2026 Processing time: 208 Days and 13.7 Hours
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) depict a transformative tool in regenerative medicine, offering scalable, patient-specific alternatives to primary mesenchymal stem cells. The recent study by Ababneh et al published in the World Journal of Stem Cells provides a comprehensive comparison of five differentiation protocols, highlighting protocol-dependent variations in iMSC functionality. This article discusses the key findings, their implications for standardization, and recent developments in iMSC generation, including artificial intelligence-guided protocols and clinical advancements including NCT02943829 and NCT03839238 trials. These insights underscore the need for optimized methods to enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Core Tip: The study by Ababneh et al underscores the impact of differentiation protocols on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cell (iMSC) functionality, revealing variations in osteogenesis, adipogenesis, proliferation, and migration. Recent advancements, including artificial intelligence-guided optimization and CRISPR-edited iMSCs, enhance standardization and safety. Future research should address donor diversity, scalability, and engraftment challenges through multi-donor studies, automated bioreactors, and advanced gene editing to utilize therapeutic potential of iMSCs in regenerative medicine.
