Editorial: Model organisms and experimental models: opportunities and challenges in musculoskeletal physiology

• Published in: Frontiers in physiology 2023-12, Vol.14, p.1346490-1346490
• Main Authors: Renaud, Matthieu, Joeng, Kyu Sang, Rochefort, Gael Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: arthritis; denervation; experimental-animal models; Life Sciences; model organism; musculoskeletal physiology; osteoporosis; Physiology
• ISSN: 1664-042X; 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1346490

Editorial on the Research Topic Model organisms and experimental models: opportunities and challenges in musculoskeletal physiology Model organisms and experimental models have been widely used in the field of biosciences, including the area of musculoskeletal physiology. Several important milestones have been achieved in the field, allowing scientists to develop concepts, technologies, and methodologies to better understand physiological processes of the musculoskeletal system also in more complex living systems, including humans. Understanding the biological, mechanical, and structural mechanisms regulating the development and homeostasis of the musculoskeletal system is essential to study pathological conditions and contributes to the development of regenerative medicine. Although model organisms cannot fully replicate human conditions and reproduce the clinical pathology of the musculoskeletal system, they play beneficial and vital roles in research for multiple reasons. They provide feasible tools to investigate the mechanism underlying disease progression, which is limited with human studies. Animal models also reproduce consistent injury models and allow genetic studies, which contribute to the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating physiological and pathological musculoskeletal conditions (Vinnakota et al., 2016). As part of the advanced approaches in this field, this current Research Topic of Frontiers in Physiology aims to explore the latest advances made in this topic, focusing on the many advantages of model organisms in the field of musculoskeletal physiology. This research theme also aims to shed light on the challenges and limitations that accompany their application. This current Research Topic includes four original articles and one review on this field. The first article, entitled "Sex differences in long-term effects of collagen-induced arthritis in middle-aged mice" and authored by Schuh et al., focuses on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease primarily affecting synovial joints (Schuh et al.).