Functional inhibition of MSCs in MDS, leading to defective osteogenic differentiation capacity, is also mediated by TGF-β, present at increased levels in the MDS BMME (50), which cause abnormal gene expression of PITX2, HOXB6 and TBX15, leading to phenotypic and functional deficits (76). The gene discussed is PITX2; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome.