hyperostosis

[gocentral]

Hello, I'd like to request the following biological_process term:

hyperostosis def: The excessive growth of bone. definition ref: wikipedia

relationships: is_a: developmental growth involved in morphogenesis GO:0060560

This term will be used in Phenoscape annotations.

Thank you, Wasila

Reported by: wdahdul

Original Ticket: geneontology/ontology-requests/8811

[gocentral]

Is this a normal or a pathological process?

Original comment by: jl242

[gocentral]

It's normal for the species of marine fish studied so far, according to

W. F. Smith-Vaniz, L. S. Kaufman and J. Glowacki. 1994. Species-specific patterns of hyperostosis in marine teleost fishes. Marine Biology, Volume 121, Number 4, Pages 573-580

"Based on our studies on the nature and distribution of hyperostosis it is highly unlikely that it is a pathological condition. The most compelling argument against pathol- is the consistent species-specific pattern of bone hyperostosis. The predictable ontogenetic expression of FH in these species further refutes the hypothesis that it is a diseased condition. Reports of hyperostosis have often been misleading in stating that the condition was not present in all individuals, implying that only certain indi- viduals in a specific population develop FH. In most spe- cies, however, FH develops (or is detectable non-histolog- ically) only in relatively large (mature) individuals, and the timing of hyperostosis onset in different bone loci is typi- cally sequential rather than simultaneous. Thus, a broad size series of individuals of each species must be exam- ined before the ontogenetic pattern of FH can be fully es- tablished. Finally, there was no histological evidence of pathology in the hyperostotic bone, i.e., no malignancies, inflammations, or infectious components. We interpret the intraspecific predictability and site-specificity of hyperos- tosis as evidence of genetic control."

Thanks!

Original comment by: wdahdul

[gocentral]

Hi Wasila and Jane,

A literature search highlights that "hyperostosis" commonly refers to a disease condition in humans. Also, the suggested definition ("excessive growth of bone") has a pathological connotation to it, which I don't think is in line with GO. Unfortunately I can't access the suggested reference, however it says that "In most species FH [fish hyperostosis] develops only in relatively large (mature) individuals", and this also shows up on other internet searches. The reason for this bone enlargement seems to be unknown, though some suggest it may have a role in calcium regulation. So, FH has been observed as an age-induced condition, though seemingly non-pathological.

The term "pachyostosis" is also found as sometimes synonym of fish hyperostosis. Wikipedia defines it as "a condition in vertebrate animals in which the bones experience a thickening, resulting in unusually solid bone structure with little to no marrow. It occurs in both terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates, such as manatees and dugongs, plesiosaurs, and members of the Dinocephalia clade of therapsids." The only accessible paper in PubMed (PMID: 21392306) has pachyostosis as an adaptation occurred over time (evolution) in amniotes that returned to aquatic environment.

All summed up, it seems that fish hyperostosis refers to a non-physiological condition; not necessarily pathological, but associated with ageing, if not with adaptation. Do you have any reference for gene products involved in FH?

Thanks, Paola

Original comment by: paolaroncaglia

[gocentral]

• assigned_to: nobody --> paolaroncaglia

Original comment by: paolaroncaglia

[gocentral]

Hi Wasila and Jane,

Based on my notes below, I still think that this term would not be in line with GO. The Oxford English Dictionary confirms that the "-osis" suffix is used in "nouns of condition, esp. medical terms, usually denoting a condition of disease, disorder, excess, or infection". I haven't been able to find a "healthy synonym" for hyperostosis or pachyostosis, therefore I'll close this item, but feel free to re-open it if you can provide additional references or information.

Thanks, Paola

Original comment by: paolaroncaglia

[gocentral]

• status: open --> closed-rejected

Original comment by: paolaroncaglia