Heart transplant recipients who receive a heart from a significantly older donor may experience certain side effects associated with accelerated aging, according to new research on mice models. The study, published in the American Journal of Transplantation, suggests that treating the donor with certain medications before the transplant could help reduce the risk of such complications.[1]
The team behind the research noted that heart transplant donors and recipients often have substantially different ages, making it especially important to learn more about age’s impact on post-transplant outcomes.
“Aging is linked to a decline in physical capacity and cognitive functions, leading to immobility, frailty, and declining learning and memory abilities,” wrote principal investigator Stefan G. Tullius, MD, PhD, chief of transplant surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and colleagues. “In transplantation, donor age constitutes a significant risk factor for transplant outcomes, yet the utilization of older organs remains critical to address insufficient organ supply. Notably, most transplanted organs today are from donors aged ≥50 years.”
According to Tullius et al., aging cells often become senescent over time, meaning they stop multiplying and even secrete potentially harmful chemicals that can affect nearby cells. The group found that implanting the hearts of older mice into younger mice resulted in an increased presence of senescent cells in the younger mice. This was linked to a “compromised physical performance,” higher levels of anxiety and “compromised spatial working memory” in the younger mice.
Treating the older mice with senescence-inhibiting drugs before the procedure, however, helped reduce the risk of these side effects. The group described this therapy as a “promising approach.”
“Currently, due to insufficient supply in clinical organ transplantation, donor and recipient ages differ substantially,” Tullius explained in a statement. “Our results suggest that senolytic treatments can be a potential therapeutic approach for improving the outcomes of older organs.”
While this research was exclusively focused on mice models, its implications shine a light on the potential long-term future of care for older patients being considered for organ transplants.
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.