Ex vivo expanded patient-derived BM-MSCs exhibited a more thick and granular morphology and a lower expression of CD105 and CD104 and had defective growth potential as compared to HD-derived BM-MSCs. Genomic aberrations (mainly gains) in 17/17 tested MDS-derived BM-MSCs; not present in hematopoietic cells. No difference in cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, osteoblastic and adipocytic differentiation capacity between patient- and HD-derived BM-MSCs. Impaired chondrocyte differentiation of MDS-derived BM-MSCs. The gene discussed is ENG; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome.