According to the WHO, musculoskeletal disorders comprise more than 150 conditions that affect the locomotor system. They range from those that arise suddenly and are short-lived, such as fractures, sprains, and strains, to lifelong conditions associated with ongoing functioning limitations and disability. Musculoskeletal diseases are typically characterized by pain (often persistent) and limitations in mobility, dexterity, and overall level of functioning, reducing people’s ability to work. In addition, research has indicated that musculoskeletal disorders are the leading contributors to disability worldwide, with lower back pain being the single leading cause of disability in 160 countries. Musculoskeletal conditions include conditions that affect: joints, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis; bones, such as osteoporosis, osteopenia and associated fragility fractures, traumatic fractures; muscles, such as sarcopenia; the spine, such as back and neck pain; and multiple body areas or systems, such as regional and widespread pain disorders.

It has been well documented by previous studies that inflammation is closely related to musculoskeletal disorders, in particular, the inflammatory musculoskeletal pain conditions. A wide range of inflammatory mediators have been reported to contribute to the initiation and progression of musculoskeletal diseases, with cytokines being the most common ones. A good understanding of inflammatory mediators in the development of musculoskeletal disorders would benefit clinical treatment.

Thus, the aim of this Special Issue is to collect original research and review articles on all types of inflammatory mediators, including but not limited to, cytokines, histamine, bradykinin, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, PAF, biological response modifiers, inflammasomes and the family of cell adhesion-promoting molecules. We are particularly interested in papers that report novel inflammatory mediators to expand our knowledge on inflammation that leads to musculoskeletal disorders.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Basic molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating inflammation in musculoskeletal disorders
• Inflammatory mediators in the development of musculoskeletal disorders
• Myokines family of peptides
• Novel agents that modulate inflammatory responses in musculoskeletal disorders
• Animal models of inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders
• In vitro models of inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders
• The interplay between inflammation and other pathogenesis in musculoskeletal disorders
• Clinical inflammatory markers of musculoskeletal disorders
• Meta-analysis and systematic review on inflammatory markers of musculoskeletal disorders