Bone is a dynamic tissue that undergoes continuous remodeling, throughout life, orchestrated by the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts, originating from mesenchymal stem cells, are responsible for bone matrix deposition and, when matured into osteocytes regulate mechanosensing. Osteoclasts, originating from monocytes, are responsible for bone resorption. Non-coding RNAs play a pivotal role in bone metabolism, and long non-coding (lnc)RNA and circular (circ)RNA are emerging in the regulation of bone cell function and differentiation. lncRNAs and circRNAs regulate the expression of genes relevant for maintenance of bone homeostasis; therefore, their alteration may represent a crucial factor in the onset of bone diseases, such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. Deregulation of these non-coding RNAs has been also found associated to other skeletal diseases such as osteosarcoma, bone metastasis, osteoarthritis. Based on this contest, lncRNA and circRNAs may have potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for bone disease; however, this role requires further investigations.
This research topic aims to enhancing the knowledge about any potential future clinical implementation of lncRNAs and circRNAs as biomarkers for bone diseases. The expression level and functions of these non-coding RNA related to bone disease have been previously characterized. However, the investigation of novel molecular mechanisms, particularly the non-coding RNA-microRNA-mRNA axis, underling bone-related disorders is critical to find novel biomarkers that might be used for the management of diseased patients. Related to this topic, a promising area of research would be the study of circulating lncRNAs and circRNAs. Both classes of non-coding RNAs have been found in body fluids like blood, plasma, serum, and urine, as either free or encapsulated into extracellular vesicles in a stable form. Therefore, non-coding RNA would represent appropriate non-invasive biomarkers; however, only a few studies are available on bone disease. The clinical implementation of lncRNAs and circRNAs requires the understanding of factors that could affect the appropriate quantification of circulating molecules: all pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical variables that may alter their measurement and quantification results should be considered. Research on circulating lncRNA and circRNA is challenging but also a new exciting field with potentially relevant clinical perspectives to be explored.
Research on lncRNAs and circRNAs in bone metabolism and diseases and their translation into clinical practice represents the aim of this research topic.
Three main aspects would be dissected:
1. highlighting the role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in bone metabolism and diseases, with particular attention on the study of the networks including non-coding RNA species and putative target genes;
2. studying lncRNAs and circRNAs as circulating biomarkers and identifying novel signatures with diagnostic and prognostic potential in bone disorders;
3. identifying the technical challenges related to the evaluation of circulating biomarkers. Attention should be devoted to pre-analytical (sample collection, processing, storage), analytical (quantification), and post-analytical variables (data analysis, normalization).
Authors are encouraged to disclose all these aspects in association with bone metabolism and bone diseases, such as primary and secondary osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, osteonecrosis, osteoarthritis, primary and metastatic cancers to bone. Research articles and reviews will be considered for this research topic.
Bone is a dynamic tissue that undergoes continuous remodeling, throughout life, orchestrated by the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts, originating from mesenchymal stem cells, are responsible for bone matrix deposition and, when matured into osteocytes regulate mechanosensing. Osteoclasts, originating from monocytes, are responsible for bone resorption. Non-coding RNAs play a pivotal role in bone metabolism, and long non-coding (lnc)RNA and circular (circ)RNA are emerging in the regulation of bone cell function and differentiation. lncRNAs and circRNAs regulate the expression of genes relevant for maintenance of bone homeostasis; therefore, their alteration may represent a crucial factor in the onset of bone diseases, such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. Deregulation of these non-coding RNAs has been also found associated to other skeletal diseases such as osteosarcoma, bone metastasis, osteoarthritis. Based on this contest, lncRNA and circRNAs may have potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for bone disease; however, this role requires further investigations.
This research topic aims to enhancing the knowledge about any potential future clinical implementation of lncRNAs and circRNAs as biomarkers for bone diseases. The expression level and functions of these non-coding RNA related to bone disease have been previously characterized. However, the investigation of novel molecular mechanisms, particularly the non-coding RNA-microRNA-mRNA axis, underling bone-related disorders is critical to find novel biomarkers that might be used for the management of diseased patients. Related to this topic, a promising area of research would be the study of circulating lncRNAs and circRNAs. Both classes of non-coding RNAs have been found in body fluids like blood, plasma, serum, and urine, as either free or encapsulated into extracellular vesicles in a stable form. Therefore, non-coding RNA would represent appropriate non-invasive biomarkers; however, only a few studies are available on bone disease. The clinical implementation of lncRNAs and circRNAs requires the understanding of factors that could affect the appropriate quantification of circulating molecules: all pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical variables that may alter their measurement and quantification results should be considered. Research on circulating lncRNA and circRNA is challenging but also a new exciting field with potentially relevant clinical perspectives to be explored.
Research on lncRNAs and circRNAs in bone metabolism and diseases and their translation into clinical practice represents the aim of this research topic.
Three main aspects would be dissected:
1. highlighting the role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in bone metabolism and diseases, with particular attention on the study of the networks including non-coding RNA species and putative target genes;
2. studying lncRNAs and circRNAs as circulating biomarkers and identifying novel signatures with diagnostic and prognostic potential in bone disorders;
3. identifying the technical challenges related to the evaluation of circulating biomarkers. Attention should be devoted to pre-analytical (sample collection, processing, storage), analytical (quantification), and post-analytical variables (data analysis, normalization).
Authors are encouraged to disclose all these aspects in association with bone metabolism and bone diseases, such as primary and secondary osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, osteonecrosis, osteoarthritis, primary and metastatic cancers to bone. Research articles and reviews will be considered for this research topic.