Siyi Zhu
Giuseppina Storlino
Sandeep Kumar
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- 1Rehabilitation Medicine Center and Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- 2Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- 4Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
Editorial on the Research Topic
The endocrine role of the musculoskeletal system
The musculoskeletal system’s dual role as a structural framework and an endocrine organ has unveiled a new frontier in understanding its systemic influence (1–3). This Research Topic focuses on the endocrine crosstalk between bone and muscle, emphasizing the production and regulation of myokines and osteokines, and their roles in maintaining systemic homeostasis (2–5). The collected studies explore how the musculoskeletal system contributes to both physiological and pathological conditions, enriching the field of endocrinology with innovative insights.
MicroRNAs in bone loss and diabetes
Daamouch et al. examine the role of microRNAs in Type 1 diabetes-induced bone loss, identifying key dysregulated miRNAs in serum and bone tissues. This study highlights miR-136-3p and miR-206-3p as pivotal biomarkers and their links to pathways like TGF-beta and osteoclast differentiation, advancing potential diagnostics for bone fragility.
Vitamin B12’s role in musculoskeletal health
Zhao et al. investigate the impact of Vitamin B12 and its biomarkers on musculoskeletal health, revealing significant associations with bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle strength in older adults. These findings underscore the potential of Vitamin B12 as a critical determinant of aging-related musculoskeletal integrity.
Sclerostin levels and metabolic disorders
Alramah et al. analyze sclerostin levels in a multiethnic population with obesity and Type 2 diabetes, uncovering significant gender and ethnic differences. Elevated sclerostin correlated with metabolic markers and bone health, emphasizing its role as a potential biomarker for metabolic bone diseases.
Glucocorticoid receptor in bone marrow adipocytes
Schill et al. investigate the effects of glucocorticoid receptor deficiency in bone marrow adipocytes, revealing mild impacts on bone and hematopoiesis but no influence on marrow adiposity expansion under caloric restriction. This study adds nuance to our understanding of marrow adipose tissue’s endocrine function.
Fatty acids and adolescent bone health
Wang et al. link dietary fatty acids to bone mineral density in adolescents, finding that saturated fatty acids enhance BMD while polyunsaturated fats have a negative effect. This study highlights the importance of dietary balance in adolescent skeletal development.
Lead exposure and bone density
Wang et al. reveal a significant negative correlation between urinary lead levels and BMD, emphasizing the toxicological impact of environmental lead on bone health. This study calls for heightened public health initiatives targeting heavy metal exposure.
Sarcopenia and rotator cuff tears
Yang et al. establish a genetic link between sarcopenia-related traits and rotator cuff tears using Mendelian randomization, providing evidence-based insights for optimizing clinical management of these conditions.
FGF21 and osteoporosis
Liu et al. explore the causal effects of FGF21 overexpression on bone health, demonstrating its role in reducing BMD and increasing osteoporosis risk. This study identifies FGF21 as a potential therapeutic target for bone-related metabolic disorders.
Vascular and lymphatic networks in bone health
Huang et al. review the interplay between vascular and lymphatic systems in bone and joint homeostasis, highlighting their co-regulatory roles and potential therapeutic implications for inflammatory joint diseases.
Acupuncture and lumbar disc herniation
Yan et al. compare acupuncture to traditional rehabilitation in lumbar disc herniation, finding superior long-term benefits in muscle restoration and pain relief. This research underscores acupuncture’s potential as an integrative therapy.
Conclusion
Collectively, these studies enhance our understanding of the musculoskeletal system’s endocrine roles and its systemic interactions. We thank the authors for their valuable contributions, advancing both fundamental and clinical endocrinology. Their work lays a robust foundation for future interdisciplinary research.
Author contributions
SZ: Funding acquisition, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. GS: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. SK: Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82272599), Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (2024NSFSC0533), Sichuan University “Research Special Project on the Comprehensive Reform of Innovative Educational Practices Enabled by Artificial Intelligence” (2024-44), 1.3.5 project for disciplines of excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (ZYGD23014), Sichuan University West China School of Medicine Graduate Education Reform Project (HXYJS202415) and Science and Technology Bureau of Deyang City (Deyang Clinical Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Mianzhu People’s Hospital, 2023-64). The funders played no role in the design, conduct, or reporting of this study.
Acknowledgments
We appreciate all authors, reviewers, and journal editors who have contributed to this Research Topic.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The author declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.
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References
1. DiGirolamo DJ, Clemens TL, Kousteni S. The skeleton as an endocrine organ. Nat Rev Rheumatol. (2012) 8:674–83. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2012.157
2. Van Gastel N, Carmeliet G. Metabolic regulation of skeletal cell fate and function in physiology and disease. Nat Metab. (2021) 3:11–20. doi: 10.1038/s42255-020-00321-3
3. Zhou R, Guo Q, Xiao Y, Guo Q, Huang Y, Li C, et al. Endocrine role of bone in the regulation of energy metabolism. Bone Res. (2021) 9:25. doi: 10.1038/s41413-021-00142-4
4. Gomarasca M, Banfi G, Lombardi G. Myokines: The endocrine coupling of skeletal muscle and bone. Adv Clin Chem. (2020) 94:155–218. doi: 10.1016/bs.acc.2019.07.010
Keywords: musculoskeletal endocrinology, bone-muscle crosstalk, myokines and osteokines, systemic homeostasis, metabolic bone diseases
Citation: Zhu S, Storlino G and Kumar S (2025) Editorial: The endocrine role of the musculoskeletal system. Front. Endocrinol. 16:1552950. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1552950
Received: 29 December 2024; Accepted: 09 January 2025;
Published: 23 January 2025.
Edited and Reviewed by:
Jonathan H Tobias, University of Bristol, United KingdomCopyright © 2025 Zhu, Storlino and Kumar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Sandeep Kumar, c3NjaGF1ZGhhcnk1NUBnbWFpbC5jb20=; Siyi Zhu, aHhrZnpzeUBzY3UuZWR1LmNu