Furthermore, IUGR significantly impairs the differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), manifesting as enhanced adipogenic capacity through upregulated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), concurrent with increased fibrogenic potential evidenced by elevated collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) expression (Weatherall et al., 2020). Here, FABP4 is linked to fetal growth restriction.