# Protocol for generating megakaryocytes from patient induced pluripotent stem cells for disease modeling and compound screening

**Authors:** Payal Chawla, Niclas Flosdorf, Marcelo A.S. de Toledo, Martin Zenke

PMC · DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104393 · STAR Protocols · 2026-02-27

## TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed protocol for generating megakaryocytes from patient-derived iPSCs for disease modeling and drug testing.

## Contribution

A 14-day protocol for efficient megakaryocyte differentiation from patient iPSCs with applications in disease modeling and compound screening.

## Key findings

- A step-by-step protocol for iPSC expansion, dissociation, and aggregation into spin embryoid bodies.
- Lineage commitment and differentiation toward megakaryocytes is achievable within 14 days.
- The protocol enables phenotypic analysis and compound testing across multiple patient-derived iPSC lines.

## Abstract

Here, we present a protocol for generating megakaryocytes from patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We describe steps for expanding and dissociating iPSCs into single cells and aggregating them into spin embryoid bodies (EBs). We detail procedures for lineage commitment and differentiation toward megakaryocytes within 14 days. This protocol supports phenotypic characterization and compound testing across multiple patient-derived iPSC lines.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Flosdorf et al.1

•Instructions for differentiating patient iPSCs into megakaryocytes•Steps for efficient mesoderm induction and cytokine- and compound-guided differentiation•Procedures for disease modeling and compound screening

Instructions for differentiating patient iPSCs into megakaryocytes

Steps for efficient mesoderm induction and cytokine- and compound-guided differentiation

Procedures for disease modeling and compound screening

Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Here, we present a protocol for generating megakaryocytes from patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We describe steps for expanding and dissociating iPSCs into single cells and aggregating them into spin embryoid bodies (EBs). We detail procedures for lineage commitment and differentiation toward megakaryocytes within 14 days. This protocol supports phenotypic characterization and compound testing across multiple patient-derived iPSC lines.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2) [NCBI Gene 2247] {aka BFGF, FGF-2, FGFB, HBGF-2}, KITLG (KIT ligand) [NCBI Gene 403507] {aka 710-712, CSF, MGF}, KIT (KIT proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 3815] {aka C-Kit, CD117, MASTC, PBT, SCFR}, ABL1 (ABL proto-oncogene 1, non-receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 25] {aka ABL, BCR-ABL, CHDSKM, JTK7, bcr/abl, c-ABL}, CBL (Cbl proto-oncogene) [NCBI Gene 867] {aka C-CBL, CBL2, FRA11B, NSLL, RNF55}, SPIN1 (spindlin 1) [NCBI Gene 10927] {aka SPIN, TDRD24}, THPO (thrombopoietin) [NCBI Gene 7066] {aka CAMT2, MGDF, MKCSF, ML, MPLLG, THC9}, ASXL1 (ASXL transcriptional regulator 1) [NCBI Gene 171023] {aka BOPS, MDS}, ITGA2B (integrin subunit alpha 2b) [NCBI Gene 3674] {aka BDPLT16, BDPLT2, CD41, CD41B, FMAIT2, GP2B}, CALR (calreticulin) [NCBI Gene 811] {aka CALR1, CRT, HEL-S-99n, RO, SSA, cC1qR}, PDGFRA (platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 5156] {aka CD140A, PDGFR-2, PDGFR2}, KIT (KIT proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 403811] {aka c-KIT}, GYPA (glycophorin A (MNS blood group)) [NCBI Gene 2993] {aka CD235a, GPA, GPErik, GPSAT, HGpMiV, HGpMiXI}, SETBP1 (SET binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 26040] {aka MRD29, SEB}, JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 3717] {aka JTK10}, TUBE1 (tubulin epsilon 1) [NCBI Gene 51175] {aka TUBE, dJ142L7.2}, APC (APC regulator of Wnt signaling pathway) [NCBI Gene 324] {aka BTPS2, DESMD, DP2, DP2.5, DP3, GS}, KRT8 (keratin 8) [NCBI Gene 3856] {aka CARD2, CK-8, CK8, CYK8, K2C8, K8}, TPO (thyroid peroxidase) [NCBI Gene 403521], ITGB3 (integrin subunit beta 3) [NCBI Gene 3690] {aka BDPLT16, BDPLT2, BDPLT24, CD61, FMAIT1, GP3A}, PTPRC (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 5788] {aka B220, CD45, CD45R, GP180, IMD105, L-CA}, GP1BA (glycoprotein Ib platelet subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 2811] {aka BDPLT1, BDPLT3, BSS, CD42B, CD42b-alpha, DBPLT3}, TET2 (tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2) [NCBI Gene 54790] {aka IMD75, KIAA1546, MDS}, TP53 (tumor protein p53) [NCBI Gene 7157] {aka BCC7, BMFS5, LFS1, P53, TRP53}, NFE2 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2) [NCBI Gene 4778] {aka NF-E2, p45}, BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein 4) [NCBI Gene 652] {aka BMP2B, BMP2B1, MCOPS6, OFC11, ZYME}, MPL (MPL proto-oncogene, thrombopoietin receptor) [NCBI Gene 4352] {aka C-MPL, CD110, MPLV, THCYT2, THPOR, TPOR}, SRSF2 (serine and arginine rich splicing factor 2) [NCBI Gene 6427] {aka PR264, SC-35, SC35, SFRS2, SFRS2A, SRp30b}, RUNX1 (RUNX family transcription factor 1) [NCBI Gene 861] {aka AML1, AML1-EVI-1, AMLCR1, CBF2alpha, CBFA2, EVI-1}, CD34 (CD34 molecule) [NCBI Gene 947], VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) [NCBI Gene 7422] {aka L-VEGF, MVCD1, VEGF, VPF}, KITLG (KIT ligand) [NCBI Gene 4254] {aka DCUA, DFNA69, FPH2, FPHH, KL-1, Kitl}, EZH2 (enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit) [NCBI Gene 2146] {aka ENX-1, ENX1, EZH2b, KMT6, KMT6A, WVS}, NRAS (NRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase) [NCBI Gene 4893] {aka ALPS4, CMNS, N-ras, NCMS, NRAS1, NS6}
- **Diseases:** MACS (MESH:C567770), hematopoietic malignancies (MESH:D019337), hiPS (MESH:D025981)
- **Chemicals:** amino acid (MESH:D000596), S (MESH:D013455), Monothioglycerol (MESH:C009465), Aspirate medium (-), Penicillin (MESH:D010406), PBS (MESH:D007854), trans-ISRIB (MESH:C000599093), ice (MESH:D007053), DMSO (MESH:D004121), Emricasan (MESH:C487112), CO2 (MESH:D002245), Polyamine (MESH:D011073), lipid (MESH:D008055), nitrogen (MESH:D009584), EDTA (MESH:D004492), DPBS (MESH:C012939), FITC (MESH:D016650), Streptomycin (MESH:D013307), Parafilm (MESH:D010232), P (MESH:D010758), L-ascorbic acid (MESH:D001205), Chroman (MESH:D002839), GlutaMAX (MESH:C054122), water (MESH:D014867), CHIR99021 (MESH:C473711)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]
- **Mutations:** JAK2 V617F, C) for 1-2, C) for 1, C for 6-8
- **Cell lines:** hiPS — Homo sapiens (Human), Hepatolenticular degeneration, Induced pluripotent stem cell (CVCL_Y517), MEF — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_4240), CHIR99021 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Hybridoma (CVCL_J991)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12964004/full.md

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12964004/full.md

## References

10 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12964004/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12964004