Metabolic regulation of musculoskeletal health and disease

The musculoskeletal system enables movement and is required for the protection of the inner organs. But moreover, specific parts of the musculoskeletal system like bones or muscles are also considered as endocrine organs which are important as drivers for the body’s response towards external stimuli. These diverse functions involve significant bioenergetic demands, necessitating precise regulation of cellular metabolic processes. Despite initial observations dating back almost a century, recent studies in the past decade have uncovered the molecular mechanisms governing the uptake and breakdown of nutrients in musculoskeletal cells and diverse metabolic switches which might be important for cellular plasticity. This intricate relationship involves various factors such as energy metabolism, hormonal regulation, and nutrient signaling, all of which play pivotal roles in maintaining the balance between health and disease. A more profound insight into the metabolic checkpoints governing these transitions could offer novel perspectives for manipulating musculoskeletal function in conditions such as injury, degeneration, or other disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system. This collection will include original research articles and reviews on the following topics: metabolic regulation of bone, cartilage, tendon and other musculoskeletal tissues, nutrient and hormonal control of cellular plasticity and differentiation in musculoskeletal tissue, and disregulation of cellular metabolism in musculoskeletal disease and trauma.