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Esefeld M, Pastor A, de la Torre R, Barroso O, Aikin R, Sarwath H, Engelke R, Schmidt F, Suhre K. The Proteomic Signature of Recombinant Growth Hormone in Recreational Athletes. J Endocr Soc 2021; 5:bvab156. [PMID: 34765854 PMCID: PMC8577606 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvab156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Administration of human growth hormone (hGH) is prohibited in competitive sport and its detection in an athlete's sample triggers an adverse analytical finding. However, the biological processes that are modulated by recombinant hGH are not well characterized and associated blood serum proteins may constitute new biomarkers for hGH misuse. METHODS Thirty-five recreational athletes were enrolled in a study to investigate the time- and dose-dependent response of serum protein levels to recombinant hGH administration. Participants were randomly assigned to 4 groups, receiving 1 of 3 different doses of recombinant hGH or a placebo. Bio samples were collected at 22 time points over a period of 13 weeks, starting 4 weeks before treatment, during 3 weeks of treatment, and at 6 weeks' follow-up. A total of 749 serum samples were analyzed for 1305 protein markers using the SOMAscan proteomics platform. RESULTS We identified 66 proteins that significantly associated with recombinant hGH administration and dosage, including well known hGH targets, such as IGF1, but also previously unknown hGH-related proteins (eg, protease inhibitors, WFIKKN1, and chemokines, CCL2). Network analysis revealed changes in specific biological pathways, mainly related to the immune system and glucose metabolism. CONCLUSION Our analysis suggests that hGH administration affects biological processes more strongly than previously acknowledged. Some of the proteins were dysregulated even after hGH treatment and could potentially be developed into biomarkers for hGH misuse. Moreover, our findings suggest new roles for hGH-associated proteins in the etiology of hGH-related diseases and may indicate new risks that may be associated with hGH misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Esefeld
- Proteomics Core, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Qatar Foundation–Education City, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Institute for Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group. Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08009 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF)
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group. Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08009 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF)
| | - Osquel Barroso
- World Anti-Doping Agency, Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1B7, Canada
| | - Reid Aikin
- World Anti-Doping Agency, Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1B7, Canada
| | - Hina Sarwath
- Proteomics Core, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Qatar Foundation–Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rudolf Engelke
- Proteomics Core, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Qatar Foundation–Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Frank Schmidt
- Proteomics Core, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Qatar Foundation–Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Karsten Suhre
- Bioinformatics Core, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation–Education City, Doha, Qatar
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Holt RIG, Ho KKY. The Use and Abuse of Growth Hormone in Sports. Endocr Rev 2019; 40:1163-1185. [PMID: 31180479 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
GH is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a performance-enhancing anabolic agent. Doping with GH likely began in the early 1980s and became more prevalent with the advent of recombinant technology well before any scientific evidence of benefit. The expectation that GH improves physical function stems from its anabolic and lipolytic properties. Athletic performance depends on muscle strength and the energy required to power muscle function. In recreational athletes, GH selectively improves anaerobic sprint capacity but has not been proven to significantly enhance muscle strength, power, or maximum rate of oxygen consumption. GH is secreted as a family of isoform peptides in a pulsatile manner reflecting intermittent secretion and rapid clearance. Its anabolic actions are largely mediated by IGF-I, which stimulates whole-body protein synthesis, including skeletal muscle and collagen proteins. Two methods have been validated for detecting GH abuse in athletes. The first (the isoform method) is based on distinguishing pure recombinant 22-kDa GH from the heterogeneous isoforms secreted from the pituitary. The second (the marker method) is based on measuring blood levels of GH-responsive proteins, specifically IGF-I and the N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen (P-III-NP). Only a handful of athletes have been caught since the implementation of GH doping tests in 2004. The low rate likely reflects the limitation of in-competition testing using current methods. Improved detection rates may be achieved by more out-of-competition testing, introducing athletes' biological passports, and the development of novel methods. Governance, operational, technical, and political factors influence the effectiveness of an anti-doping program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard I G Holt
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ken K Y Ho
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Roli L, De Vincentis S, Rocchi MBL, Trenti T, De Santis MC, Savino G. Testosterone, cortisol, hGH, and IGF-1 levels in an Italian female elite volleyball team. Health Sci Rep 2018; 1:e32. [PMID: 30623067 PMCID: PMC6266423 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the transferability of the reference intervals (RI) of testosterone (T), cortisol (C), human growth hormone (hGH), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, calculated on a normal healthy population, to a population of female elite volleyball players. Secondary aim of this study is the evaluation of the T/C ratio as predictive tool of overtraining during the annual regular season. METHODS A retrospective, longitudinal, observational study was performed, enrolling 58 professional female volleyball players periodically evaluated during the regular sportive season, which lasts from September to May. RESULTS Statistically significant differences between the volleyball players and reference populations for T (P = .010), C (P < .001), and IGF-1 (P < .001) were found. Three different statistical approaches to calculate the RI in the athlete group showed a high degree of concordance and pointed out a shift upwards of both lower and upper reference limits. The T/C ratio significantly changed among visits (P = .009). In particular, an overall decrease of about 30% was observed for this ratio during the season, suggesting a state of overtraining. CONCLUSION T, C, hGH, and IGF-1 reference values calculated on elite volleyball female players are higher than those of the reference population used in normal clinical practice, suggesting that the health status of highly trained subjects needs the definition of tailored RI for these variables. Moreover, the utility of T/C ratio in the evaluation of overtraining is confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Roli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyAzienda USL of ModenaItaly
| | - Sara De Vincentis
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaItaly
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism and GeriatricsAzienda Ospedaliero‐Universitaria of ModenaItaly
| | | | - Tommaso Trenti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyAzienda USL of ModenaItaly
| | | | - Gustavo Savino
- Department of Public Healthcare, Sport Medicine ServiceAzienda USL of ModenaItaly
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Lei C, Xu C, Noonan O, Meka AK, Zhang L, Nouwens A, Yu C. Mesoporous materials modified by aptamers and hydrophobic groups assist ultra-sensitive insulin detection in serum. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 51:13642-5. [PMID: 26226380 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc04458h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel mesoporous material modified with both insulin-binding-aptamers and hydrophobic methyl groups is synthesized. With rationally designed pore structures and surface chemistry, this material is applied in sample pre-treatment for ELISA, and enables the quantification (0.25-5 pg ml(-1)) of insulin in serum, 30-fold enhancement of the limit-of-detection compared to the commercial ELISA kit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Lei
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Gough L, Castell LM, Gatti R, Godfrey RJ. Growth Hormone Concentrations in Different Body Fluids Before and After Moderate Exercise. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2015; 2:30. [PMID: 27547716 PMCID: PMC4980399 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-016-0054-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growth hormone (GH) has many direct and indirect actions and roles including substrate regulation and priming of some cells of the immune system, and the expected aspects of growth and repair. Different concentrations in human body fluids reflect the exercise-induced growth hormone response (EIGR) after exercise. In populations such as elite athletes, the invasive nature of venous sampling is poorly accepted. Thus, this study examines possible viable alternatives such as urine and saliva samples and the GH concentration. METHODS A heterogeneous group of 11 males (age 26.0 ± 5.0 years; body mass 76.5 ± 9.3 kg; VO2peak 57.0 ± 6.0 mL kg-1 min-1) ran for 40 min on a treadmill at 5 % below their individually indentified lactate threshold pace. Samples of urine, saliva and blood were collected immediately pre- and post-test and at 30 and 60 min post-test. RESULTS Salivary GH was correlated with serum pre- and post-exercise (p < 0.001); urinary GH was correlated with serum (p < 0.05). However, despite being significantly correlated, it is clear from the large differences in absolute concentration in the three media that the appearance of serum GH due to exercise is different from that of the appearance of salivary and urinary GH. This aspect of compartmental exchanges is very difficult to define and to investigate. Differences in any analyte concentration in different compartments are to be expected between different media, and hence the same medium should be used where the same 'pattern of response' can be tracked. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that urinary and saliva sampling cannot substitute for venous sampling with respect to exercise-induced changes in GH concentration. The use of the analyses in these three areas may be appropriate for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Gough
- Centre for Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Lindy M. Castell
- Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rosalba Gatti
- Endocrinology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Richard J. Godfrey
- Centre for Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK
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Targeted mass spectrometry analysis of the proteins IGF1, IGF2, IBP2, IBP3 and A2GL by blood protein precipitation. J Proteomics 2015; 113:29-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Revised: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abstract
GH is believed to be widely employed in sports as a performance-enhancing substance. Its use in athletic competition is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and athletes are required to submit to testing for GH exposure. Detection of GH doping is challenging for several reasons including identity/similarity of exogenous to endogenous GH, short half-life, complex and fluctuating secretory dynamics of GH, and a very low urinary excretion rate. The detection test currently in use (GH isoform test) exploits the difference between recombinant GH (pure 22K-GH) and the heterogeneous nature of endogenous GH (several isoforms). Its main limitation is the short window of opportunity for detection (~12-24 h after the last GH dose). A second test to be implemented soon (the biomarker test) is based on stimulation of IGF-I and collagen III synthesis by GH. It has a longer window of opportunity (1-2 wk) but is less specific and presents a variety of technical challenges. GH doping in a larger sense also includes doping with GH secretagogues and IGF-I and its analogs. The scientific evidence for the ergogenicity of GH is weak, a fact that is not widely appreciated in athletic circles or by the general public. Also insufficiently appreciated is the risk of serious health consequences associated with high-dose, prolonged GH use. This review discusses the GH biology relevant to GH doping; the virtues and limitations of detection tests in blood, urine, and saliva; secretagogue efficacy; IGF-I doping; and information about the effectiveness of GH as a performance-enhancing agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard P Baumann
- Partnership for Clean Competition, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919, USA.
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Thevis M, Kuuranne T, Geyer H, Schänzer W. Annual banned-substance review: analytical approaches in human sports drug testing. Drug Test Anal 2012; 4:2-16. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Doping Control Laboratory; United Medix Laboratories; Helsinki; Finland
| | - Hans Geyer
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry; German Sport University Cologne; Germany
| | - Wilhelm Schänzer
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry; German Sport University Cologne; Germany
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