A review of the possibilities of gene doping in sports focused on the advantages and disadvantages

BARA, Sebastian, BARCZUK, Patryk, GAŁAJDA, Elżbieta, ANTONIK, Jacek, BARCZAK, Iga, BARĆ, Jan, KOCHAN, Robert, BĄCZEK, Kacper, DZIĘGIELEWSKI, Jędrzej & BONDOS, Borys. A review of the possibilities of gene doping in sports focused on the advantages and disadvantages. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023;42(1):35-45. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.42.01.003

https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/44154

https://zenodo.org/record/8077442

 

 

 

 

 

The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of December 21, 2021. No. 32343.

Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences).

Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 21 grudnia 2021 r. Lp. 32343. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159.

Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe: Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu).

© The Authors 2023;

This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike.

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Received: 21.05.2023. Revised: 15.06.2023. Accepted: 24.06.2023. Published: 27.06.2023.

 

 

 

 

 

A review of the possibilities of gene doping in sports focused on the advantages and disadvantages

Sebastian Bara¹, Patryk Barczuk², Elżbieta Gałajda³, Jacek Antonik⁴, Iga Barczak⁵, Jan Barć⁶, Robert Kochan⁷, Kacper Bączek⁸, Jędrzej Dzięgielewski⁹, Borys Bondos¹⁰

¹Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7022-1312 | granellosz@gmail.com

²Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2271-8782| patryk.barczuk11235@gmail.com

³Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie 

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6465-1490 | elagalajda@gmail.com

⁴Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9583-1631| jacek.antonik@o2.pl

⁵Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5882-2019 | iga5412@gmail.com

⁶Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8087-6252 | jan8876@gmail.com

⁷Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9796-9231 | robkochan2211@gmail.com

⁸Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2860-8360 | kacperz0909@gmail.com

⁹Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie 

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9475-1766 | dziegielewskijedrzej@gmail.com

¹⁰Student, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7971-4691 | borysb97@gmail.com

 

 

ABSTRACT

Introduction and purpose: Gene therapy can be defined as a modification of gene expression in a patient's body. There are two main strategies: the abuse of "classical" gene therapy and strategies of RNA interference with gene transfer. The aim of the study is to analyze scientific literature on gene doping, with a focus on the advantages and disadvantages of using genes related to sports.

Materials and methods: The literature available on PubMed was reviewed using the words “gene therapy”, “sport”.

Description of the state of knowledge: 

The potential modification of genes such as EPO, IGF1/GH, HIF-1, PPAR have been identified as having beneficial effects for athletes. Modifying the EPO gene could lead to an increase in red blood cells and oxygen in the blood, which could increase muscle endurance. Modification of the IGF1/GH gene can lead to muscle hypertrophy, block muscle atrophy. The HIF-1 gene codes proteins involved in the hypoxia process and can increase endurance by facilitating the adaptation of cells to low oxygen conditions. Modifying the PPAR gene can impact carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, regulating body mass. Gene therapy could provide a potential cure for diseases such as acute anemia and muscular dystrophy. However, it is important to consider the ethical and health implications of gene doping.

Summary: "Gene doping" is a practice that can lead to improved athletic performance but also to serious health problems. The introduction of regulations and doping tests detecting changes in the genome would exclude this practice among athletes who take risky and morally incorrect actions. Increasing the expression of genes such as EPO, IGF-1, HIF-1, PCK1 results in increased muscle endurance and performance. Further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms and effects of gene therapy. Genetic modification has the potential to bring benefits such as treating diseases such as acute anemia resulting from kidney failure.

Key words: gene doping, sport