Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into various tissue types including bone, cartilage,
fat, and muscle. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) family members, including TGFβs and
bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), play important roles in directing fate decisions for
mesenchymal stem cells. TGFβ can provide competence for early stages of chondroblastic
and osteoblastic differentiation, but it inhibits myogenesis, adipogenesis, and late-stage
osteoblast differentiation. BMPs also inhibit adipogenesis and myogenesis, but they strongly …