Musculoskeletal Diseases: From Molecular Basis to Therapy—3rd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 864

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Musculoskeletal Pathology and Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy
2. Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DiSCOG), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy
Interests: inflammation; molecular biology; cell biology; osteoarthritis; cartilage; musculoskeletal diseases; bone cancer; synovium; infrapatellar fat pad; chondrosarcoma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Musculoskeletal Pathology and Oncology Laboratory, Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
2. Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DiSCOG), University-Hospital of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Interests: musculoskeletal diseases; bone cancer; chondrosarcoma; osteoarthritis; inflammation; joint tissues; aging; molecular biology; cell biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Musculoskeletal diseases comprise numerous different disorders (more than 150 conditions) that affect the locomotor system (joints, bones, muscles, cartilage, menisci, and tendon tissues) and are associated with significant morbidity and disability. A recent analysis of the Global Burden of Disease estimated that approximately 1.71 billion people globally have musculoskeletal conditions. The number of affected individuals is expected to grow as the population ages. Thus, a better understanding of the etiology and new and more effective therapeutic treatments are needed. The purpose of this Special Issue is to report advances in pathophysiological mechanisms, predictive biomarkers, and preclinical therapeutic approaches in musculoskeletal disorders, with a particular focus on bone cancers and osteoarthritis.

Authors are invited to contribute to this Special Issue by sharing original research articles and comprehensive reviews.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Pathophysiological studies related to musculoskeletal diseases;
  • Molecular, biochemical, and biomechanical mechanisms involved in the etiology and progression of musculoskeletal disorders;
  • The identification of biomarkers that are useful for early diagnosis and/or predictive of prognosis;
  • Preclinical research into potential drugs and cell-based strategies for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

Dr. Elisa Belluzzi
Dr. Assunta Pozzuoli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • musculoskeletal diseases
  • bone cancer
  • soft tissue cancer
  • bone metastasis
  • natural compounds
  • anticancer drugs
  • osteoarthritis
  • joint tissues
  • biomarkers
  • inflammation
  • microRNAs
  • exosomes

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Research

18 pages, 2994 KiB  
Article
Altered Expression of Cell Cycle Regulators and Factors Released by Aged Cells in Skeletal Muscle of Patients with Bone Fragility: A Pilot Study on the Potential Role of SIRT1 in Muscle Atrophy
by Angela Falvino, Roberto Bonanni, Beatrice Gasperini, Ida Cariati, Angela Chiavoghilefu, Amarildo Smakaj, Virginia Veronica Visconti, Annalisa Botta, Riccardo Iundusi, Elena Gasbarra, Virginia Tancredi and Umberto Tarantino
Biomedicines 2025, 13(6), 1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13061350 - 31 May 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cellular aging represents a crucial element in the progression of musculoskeletal diseases, contributing to muscle atrophy, functional decline, and alterations in bone turnover, which promote fragility fractures. However, knowledge about expression patterns of factors potentially involved in aging and senescence at [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cellular aging represents a crucial element in the progression of musculoskeletal diseases, contributing to muscle atrophy, functional decline, and alterations in bone turnover, which promote fragility fractures. However, knowledge about expression patterns of factors potentially involved in aging and senescence at the tissue level remains limited. Our pilot study aimed to characterize the expression profile of cell cycle regulators, factors released by aged cells, and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in the muscle tissue of 26 elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, including 13 with low-energy fracture and 13 with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: The mRNA expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1B), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), p53, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-15 (IL-15), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), and SIRT1 were evaluated in muscle tissue by qRT-PCR. In addition, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis were conducted to measure the protein levels of SIRT1. Results: A marked muscle atrophy was observed in fractured patients compared to the OA group, in association with an up-regulation of cell cycle regulators and factors released by the aged cells. The expression of matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and fas cell surface death receptor (FAS) was also investigated, although no significant differences were observed between the two experimental groups. Notably, SIRT1 expression was significantly higher in OA patients, confirming its role in maintaining muscle health during aging. Conclusions: Further studies will be needed to clarify the role of SIRT1 in the senescence characteristic of age-related musculoskeletal disorders, counteracting the muscle atrophy that predisposes to fragility fractures. Full article
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