miRNAs as Novel Biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Injury in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users: An Experimental Study

Sessa, Francesco; Salerno, Monica; Bertozzi, Giuseppe; Cipolloni, Luigi; Messina, Giovanni; Aromatario, Mariarosaria; Polo, Lorenzo; Turillazzi, Emanuela; Pomara, Cristoforo

doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.563756

Cited by 21 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The scientific community should intensify its efforts to assess the pathophysiology of behavior and cognitive impairment due to long term AAS exposure. Moreover, evidence is urgently required to support the development of a reliable diagnostic tool to identify precociously AAS abuse as well as evidence-based therapy [ 57 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: A Literature Review

et al. 2021

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Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are a large group of molecules including endogenously produced androgens, such as testosterone, as well as synthetically manufactured derivatives. AAS use is widespread due to their ability to improve muscle growth for aesthetic purposes and athletes’ performance, minimizing androgenic effects. AAS use is very popular and 1–3% of US inhabitants have been estimated to be AAS users. However, AASs have side effects, involving all organs, tissues and body functions, especially long-term toxicity involving the cardiovascular system and the reproductive system, thereby, their abuse is considered a public health issue. The aim of the proposed review is to highlight the most recent evidence regarding the mechanisms of action of AASs and their unwanted effects on organs and lifestyle, as well as suggesting that AAS misuse and abuse lead to adverse effects in all body tissues and organs. Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and protein synthesis alteration are common mechanisms involved in AAS-related damage in the whole body. The cardiovascular system and the reproductive system are the most frequently involved apparatuses. Epidemiology as well as the molecular and pathological mechanisms involved in the neuropsychiatric side-effects of AAS abuse are still unclear, further research is needed in this field. In addition, diagnostically reliable tests for AAS abuse should be standardized. In this regard, to prevent the use of AASs, public health measures in all settings are crucial. These measures consist of improved knowledge among healthcare workers, proper doping screening tests, educational interventions, and updated legislation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: A Literature Review

et al. 2021

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“…The physical phenotype of a male who abuses AASs includes some characteristics such as muscle hypertrophy, prominence striae above the pectoralis or biceps muscle, breast development in men (gynecomastia), testicular atrophy, and severe acne that may suggest AAS abuse [1,77]. In women, signs of AAS use also include hirsutism, deepening of the voice, and masculinization of secondary sexual characteristics [78,79].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sudden Cardiac Death in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users: A Literature Review

et al. 2020

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Background and objectives: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are a group of synthetic molecules derived from testosterone and its related precursors. AASs are widely used illicitly by adolescents and athletes, especially by bodybuilders, both for aesthetic uses and as performance enhancers to increase muscle growth and lean body mass. When used illicitly they can damage health and cause disorders affecting several functions. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most common medical cause of death in athletes. SCD in athletes has also been associated with the use of performance-enhancing drugs. This review aimed to focus on deaths related to AAS abuse to investigate the cardiac pathophysiological mechanism that underlies this type of death, which still needs to be fully investigated. Materials and Methods: This review was conducted using PubMed Central and Google Scholar databases, until 21 July 2020, using the following key terms: “((Sudden cardiac death) OR (Sudden death)) AND ((androgenic anabolic steroid) OR (androgenic anabolic steroids) OR (anabolic-androgenic steroids) OR (anabolic-androgenic steroid))”. Thirteen articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, for a total of 33 reported cases. Results: Of the 33 cases, 31 (93.9%) were males while only 2 (61%) were females. Mean age was 29.79 and, among sportsmen, the most represented sports activity was bodybuilding. In all cases there was a history of AAS abuse or a physical phenotype suggesting AAS use; the total usage period was unspecified in most cases. In 24 cases the results of the toxicological analysis were reported. The most detected AASs were nandrolone, testosterone, and stanozolol. The most frequently reported macroscopic alterations were cardiomegaly and left ventricular hypertrophy, while the histological alterations were foci of fibrosis and necrosis of the myocardial tissue. Conclusions: Four principal mechanisms responsible for SCD have been proposed in AAS abusers: the atherogenic model, the thrombosis model, the model of vasospasm induced by the release of nitric oxide, and the direct myocardial injury model. Hypertrophy, fibrosis, and necrosis represent a substrate for arrhythmias, especially when combined with exercise. Indeed, AAS use has been shown to change physiological cardiac remodeling of athletes to pathophysiological cardiac hypertrophy with an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.

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“…MiRNAs have attracted the attention of researchers in various fields [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. They influence many signaling pathways involved in inflammation [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Due to this property, miRNAs could be used in vitality wound demonstration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MiRNAs as New Tools in Lesion Vitality Evaluation: A Systematic Review and Their Forensic Applications

et al. 2021

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Wound vitality demonstration is one of the most challenging fields in forensic pathology. In recent years, researchers focused on the application of histological and immunohistochemical staining in this sphere of study. It is based on the detection of inflammation, red cell infiltration, and tissue alterations at the histological examination, all of which are supposedly present in antemortem rather than post-mortem wounds. Nevertheless, some doubts about the reliability of those markers have arisen. Furthermore, the lack of a standardized protocol and the operator dependency of this approach make the proper interpretation of its results difficult. Moreover, a differential miRNAs expression has been demonstrated in antemortem and post-mortem wounds. Herein, a systematic review concerning the current knowledge about the use of miRNAs in lesion vitality evaluation is carried out, to encourage researchers to deepen this peculiar study area. A compendium about the potential miRNAs that may be further investigated as vitality markers is also provided. The aim is to collect all available data about this topic to direct further studies on this field and highlight the future applications of miRNAs in forensic pathology. We found 20 articles and a total of 51 miRNAs that are involved in inflammation and wound healing. Further studies are certainly needed to deepen the role of miRNAs in inflammatory processes in lesioned skin and to evaluate their reliability in distinguishing between antemortem and post-mortem lesions.

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miRNAs as Novel Biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Injury in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users: An Experimental Study

Cited by 21 publications

References 59 publications

Adverse Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: A Literature Review

Adverse Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: A Literature Review

Sudden Cardiac Death in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users: A Literature Review

MiRNAs as New Tools in Lesion Vitality Evaluation: A Systematic Review and Their Forensic Applications

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