It is possible to determine gene doping, but it is difficult
A way to detect gene doping has been found
Blood and urine tests in this case will not show the use of doping. These are the results of a study conducted by Mauro Giacca from the Italian International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, published in the journal Human Gene Therapy. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has asked scientists to find a way to detect gene doping in athletes.
During the study, a solution containing a carrier virus was injected into the paws of mice. This virus introduces the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene into muscle cells, in particular, stimulating the growth of muscle mass.
Animals that received gene doping could swim three times longer than representatives of the control group who received the virus without the IGF-1 gene. According to the researchers, it is impossible to achieve a similar improvement in results only with the help of physical training.
The autopsy showed that additional copies of the IGF-1 gene increased the production of the corresponding protein tenfold compared to normal muscle tissue. The scientists found that the mice also significantly increased the activity of genes responsible for energy metabolism, muscle activity and respiration.
Additional copies of IGF-1 were transferred to daughter muscle cells. Thus, a stable improvement in the physical form of the animals was achieved. At the same time, neither the gene, nor the protein, nor the carrier virus were detected in the blood and urine of mice.
"Based on the results of a muscle tissue biopsy, it would be possible to distinguish a well–trained athlete from one who received gene doping," commented Mauro Giacca on the results of the study. However, this method is not suitable for mass doping tests, since obtaining tissue samples during a biopsy is traumatic for an athlete and time-consuming.
Professor Jakka doubts whether athletes will be able to use gene doping in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games, since it is technically difficult. Now he is working on a technique for detecting gene doping by urine and blood tests by determining the level of microRNA.
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19.03.2012