A new approach to winning: Insulin-like growth factor-I signaling in competitive sport

摘要

Competition in athletic events has been a passion for mankind, even predating written history. The derivation of the word athletics (Greek athlos, meaning contest and athlon, meaning prize) confirms the competitive nature of the undertaking, and public recognition comes from winning. In the context of Olympic sports a gold medal has significant monetary and political implications. Therefore, the most ingenious strategies imaginable have been employed to win in athletic competition. Macedo and colleagues, in the current issue of Human Gene Therapy, demonstrate one additional strategy that impacts functional performance in skeletal muscle and has the potential for abuse to enhance physical performance. The study focuses on adeno-assodated viral (AAV) vector-based increase in insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I signaling and offers some insight into the pathways that influence muscle growth and performance. The objective of the work was to demonstrate that "gene doping," using an AAV vector delivered to multiple muscle groups, could lead to enhanced skeletal muscle performance.