Gene Doping with Peroxisome-Proliferator-Activated Receptor Beta/Delta Agonists Alters Immunity but Exercise Training Mitigates the Detection of Effects in Blood Samples
Synthetic ligands of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARβ/δ) are being used as performance-enhancing drugs by athletes. Since we previously showed that PPARβ/δ activation affects T cell biology, we wanted to investigate whether a specific blood T cell signature could be emplo...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Language: | EN |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doaj.org/article/3ef7540ca4824c7e8d9762079a644faa |
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| Summary: | Synthetic ligands of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARβ/δ) are being used as performance-enhancing drugs by athletes. Since we previously showed that PPARβ/δ activation affects T cell biology, we wanted to investigate whether a specific blood T cell signature could be employed as a method to detect the use of PPARβ/δ agonists. We analyzed in primary human T cells the in vitro effect of PPARβ/δ activation on fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and on their differentiation into regulatory T cells (Tregs). Furthermore, we conducted studies in mice assigned to groups according to an 8-week exercise training program and/or a 6-week treatment with 3 mg/kg/day of GW0742, a PPARβ/δ agonist, in order to (1) determine the immune impact of the treatment on secondary lymphoid organs and to (2) validate a blood signature. Our results show that PPARβ/δ activation increases FAO potential in human and mouse T cells and mouse secondary lymphoid organs. This was accompanied by increased Treg polarization of human primary T cells. Moreover, Treg prevalence in mouse lymph nodes was increased when PPARβ/δ activation was combined with exercise training. Lastly, PPARβ/δ activation increased FAO potential in mouse blood T cells. Unfortunately, this signature was masked by training in mice. In conclusion, beyond the fact that it is unlikely that this signature could be used as a doping-control strategy, our results suggest that the use of PPARβ/δ agonists could have potential detrimental immune effects that may not be detectable in blood samples. |
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