Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 14590

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: musculoskeletal system; osteosarcopenic mouse model; bone cancers; osteosarcopenia; musculoskeletal disease; myokines; osteokines; sarcopenia; osteoporosis; osteoarthritis; bone cellular models
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Guest Editor
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: multiple myeloma bone disease; bone remodeling; citokynes and bone mass modulation; angiogenesis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Diseases involving the musculoskeletal system are some of the most common public health challenges. The physical and molecular proximities between bone and muscle tissue are finely regulated; an imbalance in this regulation can lead to the onset of pathologies affecting this system. The research for new therapeutic strategies to prevent or mitigate the onset of such diseases is an ongoing challenge. Many molecules involved in this system are considered useful markers in disease progression or as possible targets and/or therapeutic molecules. In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit original articles and reviews that could contribute to a better understanding of the following topics: the discovery of new myokines or osteokines involved in muscle or bone diseases; the role of myokines and osteokines in the onset of diseases involving the musculoskeletal axis; the use of murine or cellular models to better understand the physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying the onset of pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal system; and the study of possible therapies aimed at resolving musculoskeletal disorders. Authors are also invited to contribute emerging research on the use of cellular models, with a focus on the study of co-culture cellular systems involving cell (or organoid) interactions that mimic bone–muscle crosstalk.

Dr. Giuseppina Storlino
Dr. Angela Oranger
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • bone diseases
  • muscle diseases
  • muscle and bone physiology
  • bone and muscle axis
  • myokines
  • osteokines
  • mice model
  • cellular model

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1964 KiB  
Article
In Vivo Total Ankle Arthroplasty Kinematic Evaluation: A Prospective Radiostereometric Analysis
by Silvio Caravelli, Laura Bragonzoni, Raffaele Zinno, Emanuele Vocale, Erika Pinelli, Giuseppe Barone, Giulio Vara, Stefano Di Paolo, Stefano Zaffagnini and Massimiliano Mosca
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040705 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 585
Abstract
Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) represents a significant social burden and is one of the main causes of chronic disability in a rapidly growing part of the world’s population. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has become increasingly popular despite the poor results obtained with the first [...] Read more.
Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) represents a significant social burden and is one of the main causes of chronic disability in a rapidly growing part of the world’s population. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has become increasingly popular despite the poor results obtained with the first dedicated designs. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the ankle kinematics, in vivo and under weight-bearing conditions, of a TAA through a dynamic model-based radiostereometric analysis (MB-RSA). The clinical evaluation was performed by administering the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle–hindfoot score and Short Form-36 questionnaires. The kinematic evaluation was conducted through MB-RSA during the execution of an open kinetic chain and a closed kinetic chain motor task. Double radiographic images of the ankle joint were processed using dedicated software to obtain a 3D reconstruction of the ankle prosthetic components’ motion. Eighteen patients (five females) completed the clinical and instrumental preoperative and postoperative evaluations (age 59.1 ± 10.3). All clinical scores showed a marked improvement (p < 0.005). During the closed kinetic chain motor tasks, the ankle showed a total range of motion (ROM) in dorsi-plantarflexion of 19.84°. The parameters in varus–valgus were recorded. Physiological motion can be achieved in TAA, characterized by a wide range of motion and coupling of movements on the three planes. The results of the present work may help to understand the real movement of a widespread TAA model and possibly to improve future designs and instrumentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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23 pages, 6981 KiB  
Article
Circular RNA CircFOXO3 Functions as a Competitive Endogenous RNA for Acid-Sensing Ion Channel Subunit 1 Mediating Oxeiptosis in Nucleus Pulposus
by Xi Chen, Ying Song, Guanghui Chen, Baoliang Zhang, Yang Bai, Chuiguo Sun, Dongwei Fan and Zhongqiang Chen
Biomedicines 2024, 12(3), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030678 - 18 Mar 2024
Viewed by 637
Abstract
Oxeiptosis is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathway of cell death. The involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been confirmed in the incidence and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). However, whether oxeiptosis occurs in IVDD and how circRNAs regulate oxeiptosis is still [...] Read more.
Oxeiptosis is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathway of cell death. The involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been confirmed in the incidence and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). However, whether oxeiptosis occurs in IVDD and how circRNAs regulate oxeiptosis is still unclear. In this study, we discovered that oxeiptosis could be induced in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), and circFOXO3 was significantly upregulated after oxeiptosis induction. Transfection using circFOXO3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly inhibited oxeiptosis in NPCs. Mechanistically, circFOXO3 upregulated acid-sensing ion channel subunit 1 (ASIC1) expression by functioning as a molecular sponge for miR-185-3p and miR-939-5p. Subsequent rescue experiments validated that circFOXO3 could regulate oxeiptosis in NPCs via the miR-185-3p/miR-939-5p-ASIC1 axis. Further research on ASIC1 functions indicated that this regulation was achieved by affecting the Calcium ion (Ca2+) influx mediated by ASIC1. A mouse IVDD model was established, and silencing circFOXO3 in vivo was found to inhibit IVDD development and the activation of the oxeiptosis-related pathway. Overall, circFOXO3 is one of the factors contributing to the progression of IVDD by mediating oxeiptosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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15 pages, 1055 KiB  
Article
Potential Interaction between WNT16 and Vitamin D on Bone Qualities in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients and Healthy Controls
by Guangpu (Kenneth) Yang, Huanxiong Chen, Ka-Lo Cheng, Man-Fung Tang, Yujia Wang, Lik-Hang (Alec) Hung, Chun-Yiu (Jack) Cheng, King-Lun (Kingston) Mak and Yuk-Wai (Wayne) Lee
Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010250 - 22 Jan 2024
Viewed by 980
Abstract
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Vitamin D (Vit-D) supplementation has been suggested to improve BMD in AIS, and its outcomes may be related to genetic factors. The present study aimed [...] Read more.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Vitamin D (Vit-D) supplementation has been suggested to improve BMD in AIS, and its outcomes may be related to genetic factors. The present study aimed to (a) investigate the synergistic effect between a low BMD-related gene (wingless-related integration site 16, WNT16) and two important Vit-D pathway genes (Vit-D receptor, VDR, and Vit-D binding protein, VDBP) on serum Vit-D and bone qualities in Chinese AIS patients and healthy adolescents, and (b) to further investigate the effect of ablating Wnt16 on the cortical bone quality and whether diets with different dosages of Vit-D would further influence bone quality during the rapid growth phase in mice in the absence of Wnt16. A total of 519 girls (318 AIS vs. 201 controls) were recruited, and three selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (WNT16 rs3801387, VDBP rs2282679, and VDR rs2228570) were genotyped. The serum 25(OH)Vit-D level was significantly associated with VDBP rs2282679 alleles (OR = −4.844; 95% CI, −7.521 to −2.167, p < 0.001). Significant multi-locus models were identified by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) analyses on the serum 25(OH)Vit-D level (p = 0.006) and trabecular area (p = 0.044). In the gene-edited animal study, Wnt16 global knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) male mice were provided with different Vit-D diets (control chow (1000 IU/Kg) vs. Vit-D-deficient chow (Nil in Vit-D) vs. high-dose Vit-D chow (20,000 IU/Kg)) from 4 weeks to 10 weeks old. Wnt16 global KO mice had significantly lower serum 25(OH)Vit-D levels and higher liver Vdbp mRNA expression levels than WT mice. In addition, Wnt16 global KO mice showed a decrease in bone density, cortical thickness and cortical area compared with WT mice. Interestingly, high-dose Vit-D chow led to lower bone density, cortical thickness, and cortical area in WT mice, which were less obvious in Wnt16 global KO mice. In conclusion, WNT16 may regulate the serum 25(OH)Vit-D level and bone qualities, which might be associated with VDBP expression. Further investigations with a larger sample size and wider spectrum of scoliosis severity are required to validate our findings regarding the interaction between WNT16 and Vit-D status in patients with AIS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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10 pages, 687 KiB  
Article
How to Generate Self-Efficacy despite Pain: The Role of Catastrophizing and Avoidance in Women with Fibromyalgia
by Patricia Catalá, Lorena Gutiérrez, Carmen Écija and Cecilia Peñacoba
Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010047 - 24 Dec 2023
Viewed by 804
Abstract
Background and Objective: Fibromyalgia-related pain is influenced by numerous factors, including severity, as well as cognitive profiles based on pain catastrophizing or activity patterns. In this context, self-efficacy is identified as a potential predictor for explaining certain health outcomes. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Background and Objective: Fibromyalgia-related pain is influenced by numerous factors, including severity, as well as cognitive profiles based on pain catastrophizing or activity patterns. In this context, self-efficacy is identified as a potential predictor for explaining certain health outcomes. This study aimed to contribute to exploring the role of pain avoidance (as activity pattern) between pain severity and self-efficacy along pain catastrophizing. Methods: Through a cross-sectional study, a total of 264 women with fibromyalgia completed self-report measures of pain severity, pain avoidance, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy. The severity of the symptoms, the time elapsed since diagnosis, and the time elapsed since the onsets of symptoms were included as covariates to control. Regression-based moderated-mediation analysis was used to test the conditional effect of pain severity on self-efficacy via pain avoidance at varying levels of pain catastrophizing. Results: Pain avoidance mediated the effect of pain severity on self-efficacy. The indirect effects showed a moderated effect when patients scored high on the pain catastrophizing scale. The model evaluated, where catastrophic pain moderates the indirect effect of pain intensity on self-efficacy through pain avoidance, explained 49% of the variance. Conclusions: Catastrophic beliefs associated with pain as being uncontrollable increase the relationship between pain severity and pain avoidance. In turn, pain avoidance is associated with a low perception of capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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20 pages, 5200 KiB  
Article
Interplay between Cultured Human Osteoblastic and Skeletal Muscle Cells: Effects of Conditioned Media on Glucose and Fatty Acid Metabolism
by Ngoc Nguyen Lunde, Nimo Mukhtar Mohamud Osoble, Andrea Dalmao Fernandez, Alfreda S. Antobreh, Abbas Jafari, Sachin Singh, Tuula A. Nyman, Arild C. Rustan, Rigmor Solberg and G. Hege Thoresen
Biomedicines 2023, 11(11), 2908; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11112908 - 27 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1197
Abstract
The interplay between skeletal muscle and bone is primarily mechanical; however, biochemical crosstalk by secreted mediators has recently gained increased attention. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic effects of conditioned medium from osteoblasts (OB-CM) on myotubes and vice versa. Human [...] Read more.
The interplay between skeletal muscle and bone is primarily mechanical; however, biochemical crosstalk by secreted mediators has recently gained increased attention. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic effects of conditioned medium from osteoblasts (OB-CM) on myotubes and vice versa. Human skeletal muscle cells incubated with OB-CM showed increased glucose uptake and oxidation, and mRNA expression of the glucose transporter (GLUT) 1, while fatty acid uptake and oxidation, and mRNA expression of the fatty acid transporter CD36 were decreased. This was supported by proteomic analysis, where expression of proteins involved in glucose uptake, glycolytic pathways, and the TCA cycle were enhanced, and expression of several proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism were reduced. Similar effects on energy metabolism were observed in human bone marrow stromal cells differentiated to osteoblastic cells incubated with conditioned medium from myotubes (SKM-CM), with increased glucose uptake and reduced oleic acid uptake. Proteomic analyses of the two conditioned media revealed many common proteins. Thus, our data may indicate a shift in fuel preference from fatty acid to glucose metabolism in both cell types, induced by conditioned media from the opposite cell type, possibly indicating a more general pattern in communication between these tissues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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17 pages, 3125 KiB  
Article
Influence of Muscle Mass and Strength on Bone Mineralisation with Consideration of Sclerostin Concentration
by Martyna Patalong-Wójcik, Anna Golara, Katarzyna Zając, Alicja Sokołowska, Mateusz Kozłowski, Aleksandra Tołoczko-Grabarek, Mariola Krzyścin, Agnieszka Brodowska, Agnieszka Janiec, Aleksandra Myszka, Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska and Elżbieta Sowińska-Przepiera
Biomedicines 2023, 11(6), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061574 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1049
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by a reduction in bone strength due to increased porosity and impaired mineralisation. In our study, we investigated whether muscle strength and mass exert a significant effect on bone mineral density in young adult women. We also tested [...] Read more.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by a reduction in bone strength due to increased porosity and impaired mineralisation. In our study, we investigated whether muscle strength and mass exert a significant effect on bone mineral density in young adult women. We also tested whether sclerostin can be used as an indicator in the assessment of bone mineralisation. The study included 111 patients. All patients had their bone mineral density determined in the L1–L4 section of the lumbar spine and in the whole skeleton. The parameters of fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LBM) and visceral fat mass (VF) were also determined. Metabolic activity of osteocytes was assessed by measuring the serum sclerostin concentration. There was a statistically significant association of both hands’ muscle strength with all parameters expressing bone mineralisation. A statistically significant relationship was also obtained between BMD L1–L4 and the body mass components (FM, LBM). Sclerostin levels in the study did not differ between groups with normal and reduced bone mineral density. Muscle strength assessment may be a potential exponent of reduced bone mineral density, also used clinically in young adult women. The utility of sclerostin in the clinical assessment of bone mineralisation has not been demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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12 pages, 2194 KiB  
Article
All-trans Retinoic Acid and Beta-Carotene Increase Sclerostin Production in C2C12 Myotubes
by Franz Ewendt, Anne Lehmann, Maximilian F. Wodak and Gabriele I. Stangl
Biomedicines 2023, 11(5), 1432; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11051432 - 12 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1388
Abstract
Sclerostin is a protein secreted by osteocytes whose encoding gene SOST is regulated by mechanical stimuli, cytokines, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and mediates antianabolic effects on bone formation as an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Interestingly, skeletal muscle has recently [...] Read more.
Sclerostin is a protein secreted by osteocytes whose encoding gene SOST is regulated by mechanical stimuli, cytokines, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and mediates antianabolic effects on bone formation as an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Interestingly, skeletal muscle has recently been identified as another source of sclerostin, suggesting that the musculature may play an important role in maintaining bone mass. However, regulators of muscular SOST expression are virtually unknown. This study investigates the influence of ATRA and the provitamin A derivative beta-carotene (β-C) on sclerostin synthesis in muscle cells. The impact of ATRA, its synthetic analog TTNPB, and β-C on Sost transcription was analyzed by qRT-PCR in C2C12 myotubes and the secreted sclerostin protein by ELISA. ATRA strongly increases the sclerostin synthesis in C2C12 myotubes in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulating effect of ATRA and TTNPB on Sost is largely reduced in the presence of the retinoic acid receptor inhibitor AGN193109. β-C also increases the Sost expression, but this effect vanishes when β-C is coincubated with beta-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase 1 (BCMO1)-specific siRNA. Thus, ATRA is a potent stimulator of sclerostin release in muscle cells. β-C can also increase Sost mRNA abundance, but this effect depends on the conversion to a retinoid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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14 pages, 450 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 in Older Patients: Assessment of Post-COVID-19 Sarcopenia
by Almudena López-Sampalo, Lidia Cobos-Palacios, Alberto Vilches-Pérez, Jaime Sanz-Cánovas, Antonio Vargas-Candela, Juan José Mancebo-Sevilla, Halbert Hernández-Negrín, Ricardo Gómez-Huelgas and María Rosa Bernal-López
Biomedicines 2023, 11(3), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11030733 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1778
Abstract
(1) Background: Acute COVID-19 infections produce alterations in the skeletal muscle, leading to acute sarcopenia, but the medium- and long-term consequences are still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate: (1) body composition; (2) muscle strength and the prevalence of sarcopenia; [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Acute COVID-19 infections produce alterations in the skeletal muscle, leading to acute sarcopenia, but the medium- and long-term consequences are still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate: (1) body composition; (2) muscle strength and the prevalence of sarcopenia; and (3) the relationship between muscle strength with symptomatic and functional evolution in older patients affected by/recovered from COVID-19; (2) Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study of patients aged ≥65 years who had suffered from COVID-19 infection between 1 March and 31 May 2020, as confirmed by PCR or subsequent seroconversion. Persistent symptoms, as well as anthropometric, clinical, and analytical characteristics, were analyzed at 3 and 12 months after infection. The degree of sarcopenia was determined by dynamometry and with SARC-F; (3) Results: 106 participants, aged 76.8 ± 7 years, were included. At 3 months postinfection, a high percentage of sarcopenic patients was found, especially among women and in those with hospitalization. At 12 months postinfection, this percentage had decreased, coinciding with a functional and symptomatic recovery, and the normalization of inflammatory parameters, especially interleukin-6 (4.7 ± 11.6 pg/mL vs. 1.5 ± 2.4 pg/mL, p < 0.05). The improvement in muscle strength was accompanied by significant weight gain (71.9 ± 12.1 kg vs. 74.7 ± 12.7 kg, p < 0.001), but not by an increase in lean mass (49.6 ± 10 vs. 49.9 ± 10, p 0.29); (4) Conclusions: Older COVID-19 survivors presented a functional, clinical, and muscular recovery 12 months postinfection. Even so, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive follow-ups and assessments that include aspects of nutrition and physical activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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Review

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22 pages, 7031 KiB  
Review
Investigating and Practicing Orthopedics at the Intersection of Sex and Gender: Understanding the Physiological Basis, Pathology, and Treatment Response of Orthopedic Conditions by Adopting a Gender Lens: A Narrative Overview
by Carlo Biz, Rola Khamisy-Farah, Luca Puce, Lukasz Szarpak, Manlio Converti, Halil İbrahim Ceylan, Alberto Crimì, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi and Pietro Ruggieri
Biomedicines 2024, 12(5), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12050974 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 308
Abstract
In the biomedical field, the differentiation between sex and gender is crucial for enhancing the understanding of human health and personalizing medical treatments, particularly within the domain of orthopedics. This distinction, often overlooked or misunderstood, is vital for dissecting and treating musculoskeletal conditions [...] Read more.
In the biomedical field, the differentiation between sex and gender is crucial for enhancing the understanding of human health and personalizing medical treatments, particularly within the domain of orthopedics. This distinction, often overlooked or misunderstood, is vital for dissecting and treating musculoskeletal conditions effectively. This review delves into the sex- and gender-specific physiology of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, highlighting how hormonal differences impact the musculoskeletal system’s structure and function, and exploring the physiopathology of orthopedic conditions from an epidemiological, molecular, and clinical perspective, shedding light on the discrepancies in disease manifestation across sexes. Examples such as the higher rates of deformities (adolescent idiopathic and adult degenerative scoliosis and hallux valgus) in females and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women illustrate the critical role of sex and gender in orthopedic health. Additionally, the review addresses the morbidity–mortality paradox, where women, despite appearing less healthy on frailty indexes, show lower mortality rates, highlighting the complex interplay between biological and social determinants of health. Injuries and chronic orthopedic conditions such osteoarthritis exhibit gender- and sex-specific prevalence and progression patterns, necessitating a nuanced approach to treatment that considers these differences to optimize outcomes. Moreover, the review underscores the importance of recognizing the unique needs of sexual minority and gender-diverse individuals in orthopedic care, emphasizing the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on aspects like bone health and perioperative risks. To foster advancements in sex- and gender-specific orthopedics, we advocate for the strategic disaggregation of data by sex and gender and the inclusion of “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” (SOGI) data in research and clinical practice. Such measures can enrich clinical insights, ensure tailored patient care, and promote inclusivity within orthopedic treatments, ultimately enhancing the precision and effectiveness of care for diverse patient populations. Integrating sex and gender considerations into orthopedic research and practice is paramount for addressing the complex and varied needs of patients. By embracing this comprehensive approach, orthopedic medicine can move towards more personalized, effective, and inclusive treatment strategies, thereby improving patient outcomes and advancing the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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22 pages, 867 KiB  
Review
The Use of Extracellular Vesicles in Achilles Tendon Repair: A Systematic Review
by Varun Kasula, Vikram Padala, Nithin Gupta, David Doyle, Kian Bagheri, Albert Anastasio and Samuel Bruce Adams
Biomedicines 2024, 12(5), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12050942 - 23 Apr 2024
Viewed by 473
Abstract
Achilles tendon (AT) pathologies are common musculoskeletal conditions that can significantly impair function. Despite various traditional treatments, recovery is often slow and may not restore full functionality. The use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their [...] Read more.
Achilles tendon (AT) pathologies are common musculoskeletal conditions that can significantly impair function. Despite various traditional treatments, recovery is often slow and may not restore full functionality. The use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their role in cell signaling and tissue regeneration. This systematic review aims to consolidate current in vivo animal study findings on the therapeutic effects of EVs on AT injuries. An extensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases for in vivo animal studies examining the effects of EVs on AT pathologies. The extracted variables included but were not limited to the study design, type of EVs used, administration methods, efficacy of treatment, and proposed therapeutic mechanisms. After screening, 18 studies comprising 800 subjects were included. All but one study reported that EVs augmented wound healing processes in the AT. The most proposed mechanisms through which this occurred were gene regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the enhancement of macrophage polarization, and the delivery of therapeutic microRNAs to the injury site. Further research is warranted to not only explore the therapeutic potential of EVs in the context of AT pathologies, but also to establish protocols for their clinical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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17 pages, 1684 KiB  
Review
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Heterotopic Ossification in Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
by Loreilys Mejias Rivera, Eileen M. Shore and Foteini Mourkioti
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040779 - 02 Apr 2024
Viewed by 975
Abstract
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a debilitating genetic disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of heterotopic ossification (HO) formation in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. FOP is caused by a missense mutation in the ACVR1 gene (activin A receptor type I), an important signaling receptor [...] Read more.
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a debilitating genetic disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of heterotopic ossification (HO) formation in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. FOP is caused by a missense mutation in the ACVR1 gene (activin A receptor type I), an important signaling receptor involved in endochondral ossification. The ACVR1R206H mutation induces increased downstream canonical SMAD-signaling and drives tissue-resident progenitor cells with osteogenic potential to participate in endochondral HO formation. In this article, we review aberrant ACVR1R206H signaling and the cells that give rise to HO in FOP. FOP mouse models and lineage tracing analyses have been used to provide strong evidence for tissue-resident mesenchymal cells as cellular contributors to HO. We assess how the underlying mutation in FOP disrupts muscle-specific dynamics during homeostasis and repair, with a focus on muscle-resident mesenchymal cells known as fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). Accumulating research points to FAPs as a prominent HO progenitor population, with ACVR1R206H FAPs not only aberrantly differentiating into chondro-osteogenic lineages but creating a permissive environment for bone formation at the expense of muscle regeneration. We will further discuss the emerging role of ACVR1R206H FAPs in muscle regeneration and therapeutic targeting of these cells to reduce HO formation in FOP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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15 pages, 842 KiB  
Review
Peak Bone Mass Formation: Modern View of the Problem
by Karina Akhiiarova, Rita Khusainova, Ildar Minniakhmetov, Natalia Mokrysheva and Anton Tyurin
Biomedicines 2023, 11(11), 2982; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11112982 - 06 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1472
Abstract
Peak bone mass is the amount of bone tissue that is formed when a stable skeletal state is achieved at a young age. To date, there are no established peak bone mass standards nor clear data on the age at which peak bone [...] Read more.
Peak bone mass is the amount of bone tissue that is formed when a stable skeletal state is achieved at a young age. To date, there are no established peak bone mass standards nor clear data on the age at which peak bone mass occurs. At the same time, the level of peak bone mass at a young age is an important predictor of the onset of primary osteoporosis. The purpose of this review is to analyze the results of studies of levels of peak bone mass in general, the age of its onset, as well as factors influencing its formation. Factors such as hormonal levels, body composition, physical activity, nutrition, heredity, smoking, lifestyle, prenatal predictors, intestinal microbiota, and vitamin and micronutrient status were considered, and a comprehensive scheme of the influence of these factors on the level of peak bone mass was created. Determining the standards and timing of the formation of peak bone mass, and the factors affecting it, will help in the development of measures to prevent its shortage and the consequent prevention of osteoporosis and concomitant diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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14 pages, 5909 KiB  
Review
Imaging Plays a Key Role in the Diagnosis and Control of the Treatment of Bone Sarcoidosis
by Katarzyna Błasińska, Małgorzata Ewa Jędrych, Lucyna Opoka, Witold Tomkowski and Monika Szturmowicz
Biomedicines 2023, 11(7), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11071866 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1232
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown origin. The most frequent localizations are thoracic lymph nodes and/or parenchymal lung disease, nevertheless any other organ may be involved. Musculoskeletal sarcoidosis, previously considered a rare manifestation of the disease, is presently recognized with increasing [...] Read more.
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown origin. The most frequent localizations are thoracic lymph nodes and/or parenchymal lung disease, nevertheless any other organ may be involved. Musculoskeletal sarcoidosis, previously considered a rare manifestation of the disease, is presently recognized with increasing frequency, due to the development of modern imaging modalities. The classical X-ray sign of bone sarcoidosis is the image of lace in the phalanges of the hands. Most other locations present with atypical radiological images. Therefore, they may mimic metastatic neoplastic disease, especially when they are the first sign of sarcoidosis not previously recognized. On such occasions, none of the imaging methods will give the correct diagnosis, histopathological verification, monitoring of lesions or clinical data in a patient with confirmed sarcoidosis are indicated. The article summarizes the current status of knowledge concerning the recognition and therapy of bone sarcoidosis. In addition, an illustrative case of patient with bone and bone marrow sarcoidosis is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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