Dear Colleagues,

Bone tissue consists of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, and calcified bone matrices including hydroxyapatite, bone γ-carboxyglutamic acid protein, osteonectin, and type 1 collagen. The correct regulation and maintenance of the activities and structures of these components are required for bone homeostasis. A variety of signaling pathways, transcription factors, and chemical modifications of proteins are involved in the functional and structural regulation of bone components, such as activities, interactions, and differentiation of bone cells. Several pathophysiological conditions are known to induce impairments in the regulation of bone components, resulting in bone diseases. For example, reduced bone mineral density and diabetic vascular complications have been reported to increase the risk of fracture and osteoporosis in patients with type 1 diabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying pathophysiological condition-induced fracture and osteoporosis has not been fully understood.

A variety of endogenous systems are involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis. One example is the circadian clock, which generates biochemical and physiological rhythms with approximately 24 h periodicity. Previous studies have found a relation between the circadian clock and changes in bone functions and structure. In fact, several key transcriptional factors regulating the circadian clock play a role in bone metabolism. These findings support the hypothesis that the identification of novel transcriptional factors regulating the genes encoding bone components may contribute to understand the associations of bone homeostasis with other physiological regulatory mechanisms.

This research topic will focus on novel molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying the regulation of bone homeostasis. It aims to further understand the mechanisms for which impairments in this regulation are related to deficits in physiological processes that lead to disease and poor health. Submissions can feature current topical areas including, but not limited to the chronobiology of bone metabolism, food timing and exercise, osteoimmunology, melatonin, and biology of the gut microbiome.

Jun Hirayama
Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://www.biolifesas.org/journalx_brha/authorLogOn.action by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.