title: Potential of treatment-specific protein biomarker profiles for detection of hormone abuse in cattle.
abstract: Targeted protein biomarker profiling is suggested as a fast screening approach for detection of illegal hormone treatment in meat production. The advantage of using biomarkers is that they mark the biological response and, thus, are responsive to a panel of substances with similar effects. In a preliminary feasibility study, a 4-plex protein biomarker flow cytometric immunoassay (FCIA) previously developed for the detection of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) was applied to cattle treated with steroids, such as estradiol, dexamethasone, and prednisolone. Each treatment resulted in a specific plasma biomarker profile for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein 2, osteocalcin, and anti-rbST antibodies, which could be distinguished from the profile of untreated animals. In summary, the 4-plex biomarker FCIA is, apart from rbST, also capable of detecting treatment with other growth-promoting agents and therefore clearly shows the potential of biomarker profiling as a screening method in veterinary control. It is proposed to perform additional validation studies covering high numbers of treated and untreated animals to support inclusion or adaptation of protein biomarker approaches in future monitoring regulations.
authors.affiliation: RIKILT Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. skj.ludwig@gmail.com
authors.forename: Susann Katrina Julie
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Nathalie Gabriëlle Esther
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: Francesca Tiziana
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Cannizzo
authors.forename: Michel Wilhelmus Franciscus
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nielen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007118:Immunoassay; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D015675:Osteocalcin; C073294:growth hormone, bovine; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D011239:Prednisolone