Stability of of MicroRNA as Biological Markers for Autologous Blood Transfusion Identification — 111a — Ethan Kinney, Avery Lenz, Christian Cortinas

PURPOSE: It is estimated that 14-39% of athletes dope to boost athletic performance. With the ever-increasing rate of autologous blood transfusion in collegiate/professional athletics, new testing procedures to help detect blood transfusions are needed. Select microRNA have shown promise to serve as potential biological markers on the Athlete Biological Passport as a means of detecting autologous blood transfusions, but their response to exercise remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine the reliability of microRNA as biomarkers to detect autologous blood transfusion. METHODS: The participants will complete a 5k time trial on a treadmill on two separate visits. Participants will undergo six intravenous blood draws, each taken from the antecubital vein, which will be collected pre-, post-, and 24 hours-post time trial completion. Blood samples will be collected to determine any changes in the levels of microRNA before and after the bouts of aerobic exercise. The microRNA levels will be determined by using qRT-PCR to evaluate the upregulation/downregulation of microRNA within the blood after completing the 5k time trials. RESULTS: Eleven subjects have currently completed the testing protocol and blood samples were collected. Processing of blood samples is still under way. CONCLUSIONS: Select microRNA could be used as a potential biological marker within the Athlete Biological Passport as a new method to help increase detection of autologous blood transfusion in collegiate and/or professional sports. This study will help determine the stability of microRNA following vigorous intensity aerobic exercise.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This research is supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the NIGMS of the NIH under grant number P20GM103443.

Augustana University
Dr. Matthew Heesch