title: Hepcidin as a potential biomarker for blood doping.
abstract: The concentration of hepcidin, a key regulator of iron metabolism, is suppressed during periods of increased erythropoietic activity. The present study obtained blood samples from 109 elite athletes and examined the correlations between hepcidin and markers of erythropoiesis and iron metabolism (i.e., haemoglobin, erythropoietin (EPO), ferritin, erythroferrone (ERFE), and iron concentration). Furthermore, an administration study was undertaken to examine the effect of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) delta (Dynepo™) on hepcidin concentrations in healthy male volunteers. The effects on hepcidin were then compared with those on reticulocyte percentage (Ret%) and ferritin concentration. There was a significant positive correlation between hepcidin and ferritin, iron, and haemoglobin levels in athletes, whereas hepcidin showed an inverse correlation with ERFE. Administration of rhEPO delta reduced hepcidin levels, suggesting that monitoring hepcidin may increase the sensitivity of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) for detecting rhEPO abuse. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leuenberger
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bulla
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Salamin
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baume
authors.affiliation: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saugy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C554270:EPO protein, human; D006454:Hemoglobins; D064451:Hepcidins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
keywords: EPO; blood doping; hepcidin