A wide variety of metabolic and rare disorders result in bone issues, typically related to bone loss or abnormal development of bone. Several hormones, including parathyroid hormone (PTH), estrogen, testosterone, as well as other factors like Vitamin D, phosphate, and magnesium, are involved in the occurrence of fragility fractures, bone deformities, and serious disability. Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, PTH disorders and Osteomalacia are the most common diseases.
Bone Extracellular Matrix (ECM) exerts numerous functions in the physiological maintenance of bone biology, including in cell-matrix interactions, laying and correct assembly of ECM and mineralization. Alterations in its structure and composition may be related to the onset and continuation of bone diseases. However, how the metabolic disorders impact on bone ECM features and how the ECM is involved in the disease development is far to being elucidated, and a deeper knowledge of ECM in pathological bone tissue could be critical for the design of targeted therapies.
This Research Topic aims to provide recent and novel insights into ECM involvement in metabolic and rare bone disorders. Bone mass, volume and structure, and mineralization are strictly related to correct structure and composition of ECM. Alterations of these aspects are the main consequences of metabolic diseases, suggesting a pivotal role of ECM modifications in the development of pathological bone characteristics. Research aimed at elucidating every aspect of ECM's involvement in metabolic bone disorders and rare bone diseases (e.g. Osteogenesis imperfecta) is fundamental to identify specific targets and for drug design, biomaterials, and clinical strategies, able to combat the features of pathological bone.
In vivo and ex vivo characterization of ECM in pathological bone tissues (metabolic and rare bone disorders), as well as in vitro studies and models, are in the scope of this Research Topic. Structural analyses (with particular attention to advances in imaging), investigations in organic ECM composition, mineralization process, and involved signaling and pathways are also welcomed.
We are interested in the submissions of original research, method articles and review, focusing on the following sub-themes:
1. Structural and molecular ECM alterations in pathological bone tissue;
2. Molecular mechanisms influencing ECM deposition and resorption in pathological conditions;
3. New cellular and animal models to investigate ECM in bone metabolic disorders;
4. Strategies (drugs, biomaterials, …) to contrast ECM alterations in pathological conditions;
5. Novel imaging methods to deep knowledge in bone ECM features.
A wide variety of metabolic and rare disorders result in bone issues, typically related to bone loss or abnormal development of bone. Several hormones, including parathyroid hormone (PTH), estrogen, testosterone, as well as other factors like Vitamin D, phosphate, and magnesium, are involved in the occurrence of fragility fractures, bone deformities, and serious disability. Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, PTH disorders and Osteomalacia are the most common diseases.
Bone Extracellular Matrix (ECM) exerts numerous functions in the physiological maintenance of bone biology, including in cell-matrix interactions, laying and correct assembly of ECM and mineralization. Alterations in its structure and composition may be related to the onset and continuation of bone diseases. However, how the metabolic disorders impact on bone ECM features and how the ECM is involved in the disease development is far to being elucidated, and a deeper knowledge of ECM in pathological bone tissue could be critical for the design of targeted therapies.
This Research Topic aims to provide recent and novel insights into ECM involvement in metabolic and rare bone disorders. Bone mass, volume and structure, and mineralization are strictly related to correct structure and composition of ECM. Alterations of these aspects are the main consequences of metabolic diseases, suggesting a pivotal role of ECM modifications in the development of pathological bone characteristics. Research aimed at elucidating every aspect of ECM's involvement in metabolic bone disorders and rare bone diseases (e.g. Osteogenesis imperfecta) is fundamental to identify specific targets and for drug design, biomaterials, and clinical strategies, able to combat the features of pathological bone.
In vivo and ex vivo characterization of ECM in pathological bone tissues (metabolic and rare bone disorders), as well as in vitro studies and models, are in the scope of this Research Topic. Structural analyses (with particular attention to advances in imaging), investigations in organic ECM composition, mineralization process, and involved signaling and pathways are also welcomed.
We are interested in the submissions of original research, method articles and review, focusing on the following sub-themes:
1. Structural and molecular ECM alterations in pathological bone tissue;
2. Molecular mechanisms influencing ECM deposition and resorption in pathological conditions;
3. New cellular and animal models to investigate ECM in bone metabolic disorders;
4. Strategies (drugs, biomaterials, …) to contrast ECM alterations in pathological conditions;
5. Novel imaging methods to deep knowledge in bone ECM features.
