Gen-doping

[-Elvirus-]

En fin opsummering af et i tiden HOT topic, og så skader det jo ikke den er skrevet af en forsker fra center for muskelforskning

pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1836634...Pubmed_RVDocSum

Kræver adgang for at læse den via linket.

Det er en editorial fra april nummeret (2008) Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science, af Peter Schjerling Dept. of Molecular Muscle Biology, CMRC

Enjoy.

Kan se det står lidt underligt, det beklager jeg :-/

Gene doping

Since 1998 when the concept of using gene manipulation for doping was first introduced (Hundevadt, 1998) it has been anticipated that one day we will

see athletes exploiting gene modifications to enhance performance. At present, we are still waiting for the first case, but few people doubt that the day will arise. Meanwhile, the discussion evolves around what will be the first target gene for ''gene doping''. At present, one of the prime candidates is myostatin. In this issue Fedoruk and Rupert examine the possibility of using myostatin inhibitors to enhance performance exploring the possibility of using gene manipulation (Fedoruk & Rupert, 2008).

Gene doping is the misuse of gene therapy to enhance performance. By introducing an artificially improved gene into the body, for instance a modified highly active growth factor gene, the athlete may enhance performance, equal to conventional doping. However, gene doping offers some potentially new and/or improved ways to enhance performance above what training and conventional doping can offer. By manipulating the genes, the possibility exists to achieve continuous overproduction of hormones e.g. erythropoietin (EPO) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) within the body, even localized to specific muscles of interest. Thereby, there is no need for repeated injections with the hormones that result in both high peak levels and the risk of being caught in the act. Furthermore, the risk of disclosure by doping tests is very low

- presently not existing (Baoutina et al., 2008). Gene doping also offers the possibility to decrease expression of undesired genes, like myostatin. Currently, the normal DNA in human cells cannot be modified; only extra genes can be added. But, as discussed by Fedoruk and Rupert (2008), specific genes can be turned off by expressing small doublestranded RNA molecules identical to part of the target mRNA (siRNA), which trick the cells to degrade the specific mRNA. Alternatively, the immune system can

be mislead to degrade the endogenous hormone by introducing a chimeric gene that expresses a fusion protein between myostatin and a highly immunogenic foreign epitope (DNA vaccine). Although gene therapy is currently a very costly and complicated method, gene doping is in principle surprisingly simple. The process of making the artificial gene is a straightforward process that can be made in any standard molecular biology laboratory. E. g. in my own lab we had a high school boy producing a dummy gene doping construct as illustration for his school project on gene doping. If high transfection efficiency is not needed the process of introducing the artificial gene into the body is also simple. Just inject a highly concentrated solution directly into the muscles and some of the muscle fibres will take up this artificial gene (Danko et al., 1997). If the gene of interest is a hormone, like EPO or IGF-1, a strong promoter can easily provide sufficient production, even if only a fraction of the fibres starts to excrete the hormone. The information for construction of relevant artificial genes can be found both in the scientific literature as well as in the patent databases, thus it is not even necessary to illegally buy or steal from the research laboratories or pharmaceutical companies. The big difference between gene therapy and gene doping is that the use of gene therapy is highly regulated and requires tremendous safety measures to achieve permission, whereas gene doping by nature don't require permissions and safety is not a real issue. Unfortunately, there are plenty of athletes not caring about safety and willing to take risks for the potential of winning a golden medal. One can easily imagine a scenario in which one of the illegal drug producers in the jungle hires a molecular biologist and starts spreading gene doping ampoules on the black market for the athletes to inject into their muscles. And if they are very lucky they get a high increase in performance and if they are not so lucky they become

seriously ill or die. So far we haven't seen this, although there have been indications from a German trial that the EPO gene therapy construct Repoxygen is already in

circulation on the black market (http://www.time sonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article724765.ece). On the other hand, since no doping test yet exists we cannot know if gene doping is already in use (Baoutina et al., 2008). We will have to wait for the very unfortunate case or that some other evidence turns up, like interception of these ampoules.

However, we should be aware as scientists that we are the providers of the necessary information required to pave the road for gene doping. Although we cannot let our research in genes and sports be influenced by the potential for misuse of the acquired knowledge, we have an obligation to participate in the discussion and development of means to counteract gene doping.

Edited April 17, 2008 by -Elvirus-

[Guest Slettet bruger]

"We cannot let our research in genes and sports be influenced by the potential for misuse"

Det er altid godt at vaske hænder på forhånd.....................

[-Elvirus-]

"We cannot let our research in genes and sports be influenced by the potential for misuse"

Det er altid godt at vaske hænder på forhånd.....................

Tja nu har genmanipulering jo et enormt terapeutisk potentiale, hvorved sætningen giver fin mening.