Anabolic Androgenic Steroids: Searching New Molecular Biomarkers

Francesco Sessa,Benedetta Tomaiuolo,Pietrantonio Ricci,Francesca Maglietta,Giulio Di Mizio,Monica Salerno,Daniela Pisanelli,Giovanni Messina,Giuseppe Bertozzi,Cristoforo Pomara

doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.01321

Francesco Sessa, Benedetta Tomaiuolo + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01321

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Abstract

Even if anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is clearly associated with a wide spectrum of collateral effects, adolescents and athletes frequently use a large group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone, both for aesthetic uses and for improving performance. Over the last few years, the development of MicroRNA (miRNA) technologies has become an essential part of research projects and their role as potential molecular biomarkers is being investigated by the scientific community. The circulating miRNAs detection as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases is very useful, because with a minimal quantity of sample (peripheral blood), miRNAs are very sensitive. Even more, miRNAs remain stable both at room temperature and during freeze-thaw cycles. These characteristics highlight the important role of miRNAs in the near future as new tools for anti-doping. The article provides a systematic review and meta-analysis on the role of miRNAs as new potential molecular biomarkers of AAS use/abuse. Particularly, this paper analyzed the “miRNA signature” use as biomarkers for health disorders, focusing on the organ damages which are related to ASS use/abuse. Moreover, this review aims to provide a future prospect for less invasive or non-invasive procedures for the detection of circulating miRNA biomarkers as doping assumption signaling.

Highlights

Even if anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is clearly associated with a wide number of collateral effects, adolescents and athletes frequently use a large group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone, both for aesthetic uses and for improving performance (Smurawa and Congeni, 2007; Bailey et al, 2013; Dickinson et al, 2014)
The identification of new tools for AAS use/abuse represents an important challenge for the scientific community
In the last few years, several studies have highlighted the role of miRNAs as a highly accurate diagnostic tool

Summary

Introduction

Even if anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is clearly associated with a wide number of collateral effects, adolescents and athletes frequently use a large group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone, both for aesthetic uses and for improving performance (Smurawa and Congeni, 2007; Bailey et al, 2013; Dickinson et al, 2014).The market for performance enhancing drugs is huge and constantly increasing. Even if anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is clearly associated with a wide number of collateral effects, adolescents and athletes frequently use a large group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone, both for aesthetic uses and for improving performance (Smurawa and Congeni, 2007; Bailey et al, 2013; Dickinson et al, 2014). The most frequently abused androgens are nandrolone, testosterone, stanozolol, methandienone, and methenolone (Pope and Katz, 1994; Evans, 1997a,b). The use of more than one androgen is more frequent than single agents (Pope and Katz, 1994; Evans, 1997a; Hoffman et al, 2009). Athletes may resort to masking agents in order to avoid androgen detection. Multianalytic screening analyses are capable of detecting them, instead desmopressin and glycerol, other masking agents, require more sophisticated methods (Cadwallader et al, 2010; World AntiDoping Agency, 2014)

Objectives

Conclusion