The impact of donor age and recipient age on clinical course and immune response after organ transplantation

Organ shortage and increasing numbers of older patients on the waiting list represent major challenges in organ transplantation. As a consequence, older donor organs are increasingly used and preferentially allocated to elderly recipients. However, knowledge on donor age- and recipient age-dependent immune responses is limited. We reviewed the impact of donor age and recipient age on clinical outcomes. An increased immunogenicity of older grafts and an altered immune response of elderly recipients may require age-specific immunosuppression. Age-related immune responses may also impact current preclinical tolerance protocols.