Bone tissue is a highly dynamic organ system regulated not only by mechanical and nutritional factors but also by complex molecular and endocrine networks. Among these, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression, orchestrating key processes such as osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation, mineralization, and bone remodeling. Dysregulation of ncRNA networks has been linked to a range of bone-related disorders, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, bone metastases, and rare skeletal dysplasias. Moreover, growing evidence highlights their role as integrators of systemic hormonal signals, including parathyroid hormone, sex steroids, vitamin D, and insulin, underscoring their importance at the intersection of molecular and endocrine regulation in skeletal physiology and disease.
This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of how diverse classes of non-coding RNAs regulate bone health and disease, with particular emphasis on their interactions with endocrine and metabolic signaling. Despite rapid progress in RNA biology, many aspects of ncRNA-mediated regulation remain underexplored, especially in contexts of hormonal imbalance, age-related endocrine changes, and systemic metabolic disorders that impact the skeleton. By bridging molecular biology, endocrinology, and bone physiology, this collection seeks to uncover how ncRNA networks coordinate skeletal integrity and contribute to disease mechanisms.
We welcome contributions from basic, translational, and clinical research addressing (but not limited to) the following sub-areas:
• Regulatory roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and bone remodeling
• ncRNA-mediated crosstalk between bone and endocrine organs (e.g., thyroid, gonads, pancreas, adrenal glands)
• Influence of hormonal alterations (e.g., menopause, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction) on ncRNA expression and function in bone
• Diagnostic and prognostic potential of circulating ncRNAs in metabolic and structural bone diseases
• Therapeutic modulation of ncRNAs in endocrine-related skeletal disorders
• Systems biology and multi-omics approaches integrating ncRNAs, transcriptomics, and endocrine pathways in bone research
• Epigenetic regulation and feedback loops involving ncRNAs in bone-endocrine communication
By bringing together cutting-edge studies in this domain, this Research Topic aims to illuminate the multifaceted roles of regulatory non-coding RNAs in bone biology, laying the foundation for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in skeletal and endocrine health.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Case Report
Clinical Trial
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
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Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
