No donor age effect of human serum on collagen synthesis signaling and cell proliferation of human tendon fibroblasts

► Collagen expression not negatively influenced by human serum from elderly donors. ► No difference in tendon cell proliferation when cultured in human serum from young versus elderly. ► Total and bioactive TGF-β1 levels similar in serum from young and elderly donors. ► Serum from elderly does likely not attenuate the function of human tendon cells.