Bone development and bone remodelling during adult life are highly anabolic processes requiring an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. Bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts interact closely to preserve bone mass and architecture and are often located close to blood vessels. Chondrocytes within the developing growth plate ensure that bone lengthening occurs before puberty, but these cells function in an avascular environment. With ageing, numerous bone marrow adipocytes appear, often with negative effects on bone properties. Many studies have now indicated that skeletal cells have specific metabolic profiles that correspond to the nutritional microenvironment and their stage-specific functions. These metabolic networks provide not only skeletal cells with sufficient energy, but also biosynthetic intermediates that are necessary for proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis. Moreover, these metabolic pathways control redox homeostasis to avoid oxidative stress and safeguard cell survival. Finally, several intracellular metabolites regulate the activity of epigenetic enzymes and thus control the fate and function of skeletal cells. The metabolic profile of skeletal cells therefore not only reflects their cellular state, but can also drive cellular activity. Insight into skeletal cell metabolism will thus not only advance our understanding of skeletal development and homeostasis, but also of skeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, diabetic bone disease and bone malignancies.

成年期间的骨骼发育和骨骼重塑是高度合成代谢的过程，需要充足的氧气和营养供应。成骨细胞和骨吸收破骨细胞密切相互作用以保持骨量和结构，并且通常位于血管附近。发育中的生长板内的软骨细胞确保在青春期之前发生骨骼延长，但这些细胞在无血管的环境中发挥作用。随着衰老，出现大量骨髓脂肪细胞，通常会对骨特性产生负面影响。现在许多研究表明，骨骼细胞具有与营养微环境及其特定阶段功能相对应的特定代谢特征。这些代谢网络不仅为骨骼细胞提供足够的能量，而且还提供增殖和细胞外基质合成所需的生物合成中间体。此外，这些代谢途径控制氧化还原稳态，以避免氧化应激并保障细胞存活。最后，几种细胞内代谢物调节表观遗传酶的活性，从而控制骨骼细胞的命运和功能。因此，骨骼细胞的代谢特征不仅反映了它们的细胞状态，而且还可以驱动细胞活动。因此，对骨骼细胞代谢的深入了解不仅将增进我们对骨骼发育和体内平衡的理解，而且还将促进我们对骨关节炎、糖尿病骨病和骨恶性肿瘤等骨骼疾病的理解。