Gene doping

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“Gene doping” in the laboratory: The Mstn gene coding
for myostatin was switched off in the right mouse . Myostatin inhibits muscle growth. Due to the lack of myostatin, the muscle mass of the transgenic right mouse is four times higher than that of the wild type (left)
In the 1st and 3rd row the muscle mass of the wild type. In comparison, the significantly increased muscle mass of the transgenic mouse (2nd and 4th row)

The World Antidoping Agency defines gene doping as "the non-therapeutic use of cells, genes, genetic elements or the influencing of gene expression with the possibility of increasing performance." The last point of this definition, however, blurs with classical pharmacology, there Medicinal substances that have been known for a long time, such as anabolic steroid hormones, also influence gene expression to increase performance. From a strictly molecular biological point of view, gene doping means the smuggling of DNA or RNA molecules into the human organism.

Methods

There are actually two different types of gene doping. Both work on a different principle, but have the same objective. When one hears about gene doping, one usually speaks of so-called gene doping in the narrower sense, which describes the abuse of gene therapy measures. These describe the specific delivery of genetic material, for example DNA or RNA. However, there is also gene doping in a broader sense, which aims to manipulate gene expression using highly specific drugs. The mere regulation of this gene expression counts as gene doping, regardless of the method used.

Gene doping in the broader sense

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The aim of gene doping i. w. S. is to change gene expression. This does not happen, as is otherwise expected with gene doping, by simply taking medication. These ensure that certain proteins accumulate in front of the DNA segment that is responsible for transcription . This can either accelerate or inhibit the transcription process. The active ingredients reach their target cells via the bloodstream. There they change the gene expression in a targeted manner in such a way that the drug user can benefit, be it by inhibiting or activating transcription. The definition of gene doping i. w. S. is not without controversy, since, for example, well-known doping agents such as steroid hormones work precisely in that certain proteins - namely in this case the steroid hormone receptor-steroid complexes - are deposited in front of the DNA segments that are responsible for the transcription of important muscle structure proteins . Seen in this way, steroid hormones would be the most potent gene doping agents i. w. S., who we know so far.

Gene doping i. w. S. has a much greater potential for abuse than gene doping i. e. S., because the technology in this area is already much more advanced. In addition, the risks are much lower. It is also much easier to use, and once ingested, the effect is only temporary.

Gene doping in the narrower sense

Gene doping i. e. S. refers to the targeted manipulation of DNA from outside. A gene transfer takes place by means of gene ferries , mostly retroviruses . They contain a modified version of the gene that is defective in humans or that needs to be improved. They are placed in the cells to replace the piece that is otherwise read. The method of gene doping i. e. S. is mainly used in those areas where gene doping i. w. S. would not be effective enough. The goal of manipulation is to change the patient simply and in the long term. As mentioned above, this is done by inserting an intact gene which replaces the defective one. By introducing the gene directly into the cell, it stays there. For the patient, this in turn means that he no longer has to undergo any operations or other treatments. This is also the great advantage of gene doping i. e. S., if provided, it works indefinitely and changes the human genome permanently. This means that annoying doctor's appointments and treatments are no longer necessary. However, it is also a disadvantage of this method of genetic manipulation that it is irreversible. If a defect or undesirable effect occurs, it is not possible to simply stop using the active ingredient, as it is produced by the body. The possibilities of abuse of gene doping i. e. S. are not very big up to now, because there are still very big problems with the control of the transferred genes. The processes for targeted manipulation directly in the cell are not yet fully developed, as there are problems switching a gene on or off at a specific point in time and dosing the amount of protein to be synthesized. Furthermore, the effects of a long-term change in DNA are not yet known and pose too great a risk for humans. What worries anti-doping agencies, however, is the potential of gene doping i. e. S.

Gene doping using the example of individual sport

Especially in bodybuilding there are good opportunities for gene doping to establish oneself. One reason for this is that self-doping is not defined as a criminal offense and is not controlled in gyms either. This means that there is a likelihood that gene doping of some kind could be offered in these studios in the future. Since many athletes gather in these places who are quite ready to try something new, a potential market for doping dealers arises.

Above all, those people are at risk who do not aim to maintain a healthy body, but rather aim to maintain an athletic, strong body. The general inhibition threshold towards doping is rather low, especially in bodybuilding . Above all, athletes who achieve little success in their training are at risk, but also young people, as they are very willing to experiment and often have a need for an athletic body. In the United States, for example, a research was conducted that showed that around 10% of teenagers have taken anabolic steroids at some point . A problem nowadays is that it is very easy to get such preparations over the Internet. This in turn ensures that the inhibition threshold drops. This is also due to the fact that hardly anyone knows about possible side effects and risks or these are massively suppressed even with the widespread classical doping techniques.

Gene doping would be particularly lucrative for professional bodybuilding. The main aim here would be to strengthen and build up the skeletal muscles . Since the athlete earns his living with bodybuilding, the willingness to doping is particularly great, according to an estimate from 2007 all professional bodybuilders took anabolic steroids at that time. The risk perception in bodybuilding is very low. This thinking is very short-term, a fact that has a positive effect on the propensity to use doping.

Detectability of gene doping

Gene doping in the broader sense is the proof of the body supplied foreign substance which alters the transcription, in principle, possible, and often also very easy to implement, for example, by PPAR - receptor GW1516 . The detection of gene doping in the narrower sense is in principle possible over a longer period of time based on the detection of the externally introduced transgenic DNA in conventional blood samples.

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Frieder Pfeiffer: At some point it just booms. Interview with anabolic steroids researcher Luitpold Kistler. In: Spiegel online. January 20, 2007, accessed February 4, 2009.
  2. ↑ M. Thevis, I. Möller, A. Thomas et al .: Characterization of two major urinary metabolites of the PPARdelta-agonist GW1516 and implementation of the drug in routine doping controls. In: Anal Bioanal Chem. 396 (7), Apr 2010, pp. 2479-2491. PMID 19946680 .
  3. ↑ T. Beiter, M. Zimmermann et al .: Direct and long-term detection of gene doping in conventional blood samples. In: Gene Therapy. 18, 2011, pp. 225-231; doi: 10.1038 / gt.2010.122

Web links

Wiktionary: Gene doping  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations