Impact of differentiation protocols on the functionality of mesenchymal stem cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells

Table 1 Summary of key functional assessment results of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cell differentiation protocols compared with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Protocol	Mechanism of action	Viability	Osteogenesis	Adipogenesis	ROS level	Migration	Mitochondrial potential
BM-MSCs	Primary BM-MSCs	High	High	High	Low	High	Low
EB-iMSCs[31]	EB formation + retinoic acid enhance 3D signaling and mesenchymal lineage commitment	Moderate-high	Moderate-high	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	High
iMSC1[27]	SB431542 inhibits TGF-β/SMAD signaling to promote mesenchymal transition	Moderate	Low	Low	Low	Moderate	Moderate
iMSC2[28]	Spontaneous mesenchymal induction following direct medium replacement with α-MEM	Low	Very low	Very low	High	Low	High
iMSC3[29]	Prolonged SB431542 exposure downregulates pluripotency genes, driving MSC fate	Highest	Highest	High	Low	Highest	Low
iMSC4[30]	Stepwise mesoderm induction (activin A/CHIR99021 → FGF2/BMP4/follistatin → PDGF/EGF/ascorbate) promotes MSC specification	Low-moderate	Moderate	Low-moderate	Moderate	Low	Low

ROS: Reactive oxygen species; BM-MSCs: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; EB-iMSCs: Embryoid body-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived mesenchymal stem cells; iMSC: Induced pluripotent stem cells-derived mesenchymal stem cell; TGF-β: Transforming growth factor β; α-MEM: Alpha minimal essential medium; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell; FGF2: Fibroblast growth factor 2; BMP4: Bone morphogenetic protein 4; PDGF: Platelet-derived growth factor; EGF: Epidermal growth factor.