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Richard V, Mitsa G, Eshghi A, Chaplygina D, Mohammed Y, Goodlett DR, Zahedi RP, Thevis M, Borchers CH. Establishing Personalized Blood Protein Reference Ranges Using Noninvasive Microsampling and Targeted Proteomics: Implications for Antidoping Strategies. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:1779-1787. [PMID: 38655860 PMCID: PMC11077581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
To prevent doping practices in sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency implemented the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) program, monitoring biological variables over time to indirectly reveal the effects of doping rather than detect the doping substance or the method itself. In the context of this program, a highly multiplexed mass spectrometry-based proteomics assay for 319 peptides corresponding to 250 proteins was developed, including proteins associated with blood-doping practices. "Baseline" expression profiles of these potential biomarkers in capillary blood (dried blood spots (DBS)) were established using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Combining DBS microsampling with highly multiplexed MRM assays is the best-suited technology to enhance the effectiveness of the ABP program, as it represents a cost-effective and robust alternative analytical method with high specificity and selectivity of targets in the attomole range. DBS data were collected from 10 healthy athlete volunteers over a period of 140 days (28 time points per participant). These comprehensive findings provide a personalized targeted blood proteome "fingerprint" showcasing that the targeted proteome is unique to an individual and likely comparable to a DNA fingerprint. The results can serve as a baseline for future studies investigating doping-related perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent
R. Richard
- Segal
Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute
for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Georgia Mitsa
- Segal
Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute
for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
- Division
of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Azad Eshghi
- University
of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 7X8, Canada
| | - Daria Chaplygina
- Segal
Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute
for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Yassene Mohammed
- Center
for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden
University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - David R. Goodlett
- University
of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 7X8, Canada
| | - Rene P. Zahedi
- Manitoba
Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department
of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department
of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University
of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- CancerCare
Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Mario Thevis
- Institute
of Biochemistry, Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne 50933, Germany
- European
Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents (EuMoCEDA), Cologne/Bonn 50933, Germany
| | - Christoph H. Borchers
- Segal
Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute
for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
- Division
of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada
- Gerald
Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill
University, Montréal, Quebec H4A 3T2, Canada
- Department
of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada
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Loria F, Grabherr S, Kuuranne T, Leuenberger N. Use of RNA biomarkers in the antidoping field. Bioanalysis 2024; 16:475-484. [PMID: 38497758 PMCID: PMC11216508 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2023-0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that various RNA molecules can serve as biomarkers for clinical diagnoses. Over the last decade, the high specificities and sensitivities of RNA biomarkers have led to proposals that they could be used to detect prohibited substances and practices in sports. mRNAs and circulating miRNAs have the potential to improve the detection of doping and expand the performance of the Athlete Biological Passport. This review provides a summary of the use of RNA biomarkers to detect human and equine doping practices, including a discussion of the use of dried blood spots as a stable matrix that supports and improves the general process of RNA biomarker detection. The advantages of RNA biomarkers over protein biomarkers are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Loria
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, 1000, Switzerland
| | - Silke Grabherr
- University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, 1000, Switzerland
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, 1000, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Leuenberger
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, 1000, Switzerland
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Loria F, Breenfeldt Andersen A, Bejder J, Bonne T, Grabherr S, Kuuranne T, Leuenberger N, Baastrup Nordsborg N. mRNA biomarkers sensitive and specific to micro-dose erythropoietin treatment at sea level and altitude. Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38382494 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. rhEPO abuse can be indirectly detected via the athlete biological passport (ABP). However, altitude exposure challenges interpretation of the ABP. This study investigated whether 5'-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2) and carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) in capillary dried blood spots (DBSs) are sensitive and specific markers of rhEPO treatment at altitude. ALAS2 and CA1 expression was monitored in DBS collected weekly before, during, and after a 3-week period at sea level or altitude. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 20 IU kg bw-1 epoetin alpha (rhEPO) or placebo injections every second day for 3 weeks while staying at sea level (rhEPO, n = 25; placebo, n = 9) or altitude (rhEPO, n = 12; placebo, n = 27). ALAS2 and CA1 expression increased up to 300% and 200%, respectively, upon rhEPO treatment at sea-level and altitude (P-values <0.05). When a blinded investigator interpreted the results, ALAS2 and CA1 expression had a sensitivity of 92%. Altitude did not confound the interpretation. Altitude affected ALAS2 and CA1 expression less than actual ABP markers when compared between sea level and altitude results. An individual athlete passport-like approach simulation confirmed the biomarker potential of ALAS2 and CA1. ALAS2 and CA1 were sensitive and specific biomarkers of micro-dose rhEPO treatment at sea level and altitude. Altitude seemed less a confounding factor for these biomarkers, especially when they are combined. Thus, micro-dose rhEPO injections can be detected in a longitudinal blinded setting using mRNA biomarkers in DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Loria
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Breenfeldt Andersen
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Exercise Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bejder
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Bonne
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Silke Grabherr
- University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Leuenberger
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne & Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Krumm B, Saugy JJ, Botrè F, Donati F, Faiss R. Indirect biomarkers of blood doping: A systematic review. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:49-64. [PMID: 37160638 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The detection of blood doping represents a current major issue in sports and an ongoing challenge for antidoping research. Initially focusing on direct detection methods to identify a banned substance or its metabolites, the antidoping effort has been progressively complemented by indirect approaches. The longitudinal and individual monitoring of specific biomarkers aims to identify nonphysiological variations that may be related to doping practices. From this perspective, the identification of markers sensitive to erythropoiesis alteration is key in the screening of blood doping. The current Athlete Biological Passport implemented since 2009 is composed of 14 variables (including two primary markers, i.e., hemoglobin concentration and OFF score) for the hematological module to be used for indirect detection of blood doping. Nevertheless, research has continually proposed and investigated new markers sensitive to an alteration of the erythropoietic cascade and specific to blood doping. If multiple early markers have been identified (at the transcriptomic level) or developed directly in a diagnostics' kit (at a proteomic level), other target variables at the end of the erythropoietic process (linked with the red blood cell functions) may strengthen the hematological module in the future. Therefore, this review aims to provide a global systematic overview of the biomarkers considered to date in the indirect investigation of blood doping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Krumm
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonas J Saugy
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Botrè
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Donati
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Raphael Faiss
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Breenfeldt Andersen A, Nordsborg NB, Bonne TC, Bejder J. Contemporary blood doping-Performance, mechanism, and detection. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2024; 34:e14243. [PMID: 36229224 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Blood doping is prohibited for athletes but has been a well-described practice within endurance sports throughout the years. With improved direct and indirect detection methods, the practice has allegedly moved towards micro-dosing, that is, reducing the blood doping regime amplitude. This narrative review evaluates whether blood doping, specifically recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) treatment and blood transfusions are performance-enhancing, the responsible mechanism as well as detection possibilities with a special emphasis on micro-dosing. In general, studies evaluating micro-doses of blood doping are limited. However, in randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials, three studies find that infusing as little as 130 ml red blood cells or injecting 9 IU × kg bw-1 rhEpo three times per week for 4 weeks improve endurance performance ~4%-6%. The responsible mechanism for a performance-enhancing effect following rhEpo or blood transfusions appear to be increased O2 -carrying capacity, which is accompanied by an increased muscular O2 extraction and likely increased blood flow to the working muscles, enabling the ability to sustain a higher exercise intensity for a given period. Blood doping in micro-doses challenges indirect detection by the Athlete Biological Passport, albeit it can identify ~20%-60% of the individuals depending on the sample timing. However, novel biomarkers are emerging, and some may provide additive value for detection of micro blood doping such as the immature reticulocytes or the iron regulatory hormones hepcidin and erythroferrone. Future studies should attempt to validate these biomarkers for implementation in real-world anti-doping efforts and continue the biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Breenfeldt Andersen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section for Sport Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Christian Bonne
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bejder
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Breenfeldt Andersen A, Bejder J, Bonne TC, Graae J, Seier S, Nordsborg NB. Changes in Immature Reticulocytes Aid the Indirect Detection of Microdose Recombinant Erythropoietin Use in Men and Women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2023; 55:1695-1705. [PMID: 37095637 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigated whether immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) and the immature reticulocytes to red blood cells ratio (IR/RBC) are sensitive and specific biomarkers for microdose recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and whether the inclusion of reticulocyte percentage (RET%) and the algorithm "abnormal blood profile score (ABPS)" increased the athlete biological passport (ABP) sensitivity compared with hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and the OFF-hr score ([Hb]-60 × √RET%). METHODS Forty-eight (♀ = 24, ♂ = 24) participants completed a 2-wk baseline period followed by a 4-wk intervention period with three weekly intravenous injections of 9 IU·kg -1 ·bw -1 epoetin β (♀ = 12, ♂ = 12) or saline (0.9% NaCl, ♀ = 12, ♂ = 12) and a 10-d follow-up. Blood samples were collected weekly during baseline and intervention as well as 3, 5, and 10 d after treatment. RESULTS The rHuEPO treatment increased [Hb] (time-treatment, P < 0.001), RET% (time-treatment, P < 0.001), IRF (time-treatment, P < 0.001) and IR/RBC (time-treatment, P < 0.001). IRF and IR/RBC were up to ~58% ( P < 0.001) and ~141% ( P < 0.001) higher compared with placebo, and calculated thresholds provided a peak sensitivity across timepoints of 58% and 54% with ~98% specificity, respectively. To achieve >99% specificity for IRF and IR/RBC, sensitivity was reduced to 46% and 50%, respectively. Across all timepoints, the addition of RET% and ABPS to the ABP increased sensitivity from 29% to 46%. Identification of true-positive outliers obtained via the ABP and IRF and IR/RBC increased sensitivity across all timepoints to 79%. CONCLUSIONS In summary, IRF, IR/RBC, RET% and ABPS are sensitive and specific biomarkers for microdose rHuEPO in both men and women and complement the ABP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob Bejder
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, DENMARK
| | | | - Jonathan Graae
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, DENMARK
| | - Søren Seier
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, DENMARK
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Thevis M, Walpurgis K, Thomas A. DropWise: current role and future perspectives of dried blood spots (DBS), blood microsampling, and their analysis in sports drug testing. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2023; 60:41-62. [PMID: 35938300 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2022.2103085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
For decades, blood testing has been an integral part of routine doping controls. The breadth of information contained in blood samples has become considerably more accessible for anti-doping purposes over the last 10 years through technological advancements regarding analytical instrumentation as well as enhanced sample collection systems. Particularly, microsampling of whole blood and serum, for instance as dried blood spots (DBS), has opened new avenues in sports drug testing and substantially increased the availability and cost-effectiveness of doping control specimens. Thus, microvolume blood specimens possess the potential to improve monitoring of blood hormone and drug levels, support evaluation of circulating drug concentrations in competition, and enhance the stability of labile markers and target analytes in blood passport analyses as well as peptide hormone and steroid ester detection. Further, the availability of the fraction of lysed erythrocytes for anti-doping purposes warrants additional investigation, considering the sequestering capability of red blood cells (RBCs) for certain substances, as a complementary approach in support of the clean sport.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thevis
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents (EuMoCEDA), Bonn, Germany
| | - Katja Walpurgis
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - A Thomas
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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