Longitudinal studies of putative growth hormone (GH) biomarkers and hematological and steroidal parameters in relation to 2 weeks administration of human recombinant GH.

Abstract

The detection of low doses of recombinant growth hormone is a challenge in antidoping testing. Future testing may lead toward the longitudinal monitoring of IGF-I and P-III-NP in an endocrine module. Additional biomarkers, for example vitamin D binding protein, alpha-HS-glycoprotein, fibronectin 1, and decorin have been identified in different omics studies. This was a longitudinal study of the usefulness of these putative biomarkers in relation to 2 weeks administration of low doses of recombinant growth hormone in healthy male volunteers. Moreover, the hematological parameters included in the athlete biological passport were studied as well as the serum concentration of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Fibronectin 1 increased by 20% during the treatment period (P ˂ 0.05), confirming the previous finding. Alpha-HS-glycoprotein decreased by 25% up to 3 weeks after treatment (P ˂ 0.05), contradicting previous results. The addition of fibronectin 1 increased the likelihood of detecting recombinant growth hormone intake based on individual calculated thresholds in some of the participants compared with the GH2000, IGF-I, and P-III-NP. The multiplication of fibronectin 1 concentration by IGF-I resulted in the most profound (up to 4-fold) changes. A minor 15% increase (P = 0.003) in the reticulocyte percentage was observed, but the changes did not lead to any atypical profile based on individual passport thresholds. Vitamin D binding protein, decorin, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were not affected by growth hormone. Dihydrotestosterone sulfate was negatively correlated with IGF-I at baseline (R = -0.50, P = 0.003) and post dose (R = -0.59, P = 0.01). In conclusion, fibronectin 1 was verified as a promising future biomarker for detecting low doses of recombinant growth hormone.