Laboratório de Embriologia Molecular e Transgênese, Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
Braz J Med Biol Res. 2011 Dec;44(12):1194-201. doi: 10.1590/s0100-879x2011007500145. Epub 2011 Oct 28.
Recent biotechnological advances have permitted the manipulation of genetic sequences to treat several diseases in a process called gene therapy. However, the advance of gene therapy has opened the door to the possibility of using genetic manipulation (GM) to enhance athletic performance. In such 'gene doping', exogenous genetic sequences are inserted into a specific tissue, altering cellular gene activity or leading to the expression of a protein product. The exogenous genes most likely to be utilized for gene doping include erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1), myostatin antagonists, and endorphin. However, many other genes could also be used, such as those involved in glucose metabolic pathways. Because gene doping would be very difficult to detect, it is inherently very attractive for those involved in sports who are prepared to cheat. Moreover, the field of gene therapy is constantly and rapidly progressing, and this is likely to generate many new possibilities for gene doping. Thus, as part of the general fight against all forms of doping, it will be necessary to develop and continually improve means of detecting exogenous gene sequences (or their products) in athletes. Nevertheless, some bioethicists have argued for a liberal approach to gene doping.
近年来生物技术的进步使得人们能够通过基因治疗来操纵基因序列，以治疗多种疾病。然而，基因治疗的进步也为利用基因操纵（GM）来提高运动员的表现打开了大门。在这种“基因兴奋剂”中，外源性基因序列被插入到特定的组织中，改变细胞基因的活性或导致蛋白质产物的表达。最有可能用于基因兴奋剂的外源基因包括促红细胞生成素（EPO）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、胰岛素样生长因子 1 型（IGF-1）、肌肉生长抑制素拮抗剂和内啡肽。然而，许多其他基因也可能被利用，例如参与葡萄糖代谢途径的基因。由于基因兴奋剂非常难以检测，因此对于那些准备作弊的运动员来说，它具有很大的吸引力。此外，基因治疗领域正在不断快速发展，这可能会为基因兴奋剂带来许多新的可能性。因此，作为打击各种形式兴奋剂的总体努力的一部分，有必要开发并不断改进检测运动员中外源基因序列（或其产物）的方法。然而，一些生命伦理学家对基因兴奋剂采取了自由的态度。
