Recent scientific advances reveal that organ transplants from older donors may hasten aging in recipients. However, this effect can be counteracted by treating these organs with a new category of drugs known as Senolytics. This discovery holds significant promise for expanding the donor organ supply in light of Europe’s urgent need for transplants.
Latest studies have shown that Senolytics, an emerging drug category, can thwart the aging process, specifically by blocking senescence transmission—a principal aging mechanism. This could combat the associated decline in physical and mental health experienced by patients receiving organs from aged donors.
This pioneering study, unveiled at the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Congress 2023, signals new prospects for enlarging the donor pool and bettering outcomes for patients.
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Impact of Transplanting Organs from Older Donors
Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic researchers studied how transplanting organs from older donors affects aging and age-related illnesses by conducting heart transplants from different-aged mice into younger ones.
The study found that recipients of older hearts had an increased presence of aging cells in various organs and higher levels of mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) systemically, compared with recipients of hearts from younger donors. Notably, the transplantation of aged organs resulted in both advanced physical and cognitive impairments in the young recipient mice.
Proposed Interventions and Insights
The study also identified a promising intervention using Senolytics—drugs targeting and purging aging cells. Treatment of older donors with Senolytics, specifically Dasatinib and Quercetin, prior to organ collection, markedly diminished senescent cell and mt-DNA accumulation. Recipients of these treated organs exhibited physical health on par with those who received organs from young donors.
Maximillian J. Roesel, from the research team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, noted, “The age of the donor organ is a pivotal factor in transplantation success, as older organs generally lead to poorer outcomes. Yet, their usage is vital in addressing the global organ shortage. This study sheds light on key challenges and potential strategies for employing aged donor organs more effectively.”
Addressing the Organ Deficit and Anticipating Further Study
The quest for organ transplants in Europe is intensifying due to a rise in chronic conditions, with the demand substantially exceeding the organ supply. Current statistics indicate that an average of 21 individuals across Europe lose their lives each day while awaiting a transplant.
Stefan G. Tullius, the study’s senior and leading author, stated, “Our future efforts will delve into the underlying mechanisms of our initial results, especially examining Senolytics’ ability to prevent senescence transmission in human transplants. The implications of this research are profound and could greatly enhance clinical outcomes and organ availability for transplants.”
Reference: The study titled “’Spreading’ aging with the transplantation of old organs: An experimental reality” by Roesel M., et al., was presented on 18 September 2023 at the European Society for Organ Transplantation Congress 2023 (ESOT Congress 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: Senolytics in Organ Transplantation
How do older donor organs affect the aging process in recipients?
Transplants from older donors have been found to accelerate the aging process in recipients. This is due to an increase in senescent cells, which are cells that have stopped dividing and release harmful substances that cause inflammation and damage to surrounding cells.
What are Senolytics and how do they relate to organ transplantation?
Senolytics are a novel class of drugs that selectively target and eliminate senescent cells. In the context of organ transplantation, Senolytics have the potential to reduce the accumulation of senescent cells in transplanted organs from older donors, thereby mitigating the accelerated aging effects in recipients.
What were the findings of the heart transplant study conducted by Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic researchers?
The study found that mice receiving older hearts exhibited increased levels of senescent cells and mitochondrial DNA, along with physical and cognitive impairments, compared to those that received hearts from younger mice. However, treating older donor organs with Senolytics significantly reduced these aging effects.
What does the research imply for the future of organ transplantation?
The research suggests that using Senolytics to treat older donor organs before transplantation could improve outcomes for recipients and potentially expand the donor pool by making older organs more viable for use.
What is the significance of the research presented at the ESOT Congress 2023?
The research presented at the ESOT Congress 2023 is significant because it addresses a crucial challenge in organ transplantation—age-related deterioration of donor organs—and offers a potential solution that could save lives by making more organs available for transplantation and improving the success rate of these medical procedures.
What is the current situation regarding organ shortage in Europe?
There is a critical shortage of donor organs in Europe, with the demand far exceeding the supply. An average of 21 people die each day waiting for a transplant, highlighting the urgent need for solutions to increase the availability of viable donor organs.
More about fokus keyword: Senolytics in Organ Transplantation
- Senescence and Aging in Transplantation
- Harvard Medical School Research
- Mayo Clinic Transplant Research
- European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT)
- Dasatinib and Quercetin in Organ Transplantation
- Organ Donor Shortage in Europe: An Overview
- Senolytics in Clinical Trials
5 comments
i heard about senolytics before but mostly for anti-aging skincare and stuff, using it for organ transplants is kinda mindblowing, science is crazy huh
wow, this could really change the game for organ transplants, especially with the shortage we’re facing… anyone knows how far we are from seeing this used in hospitals?
not to be a downer but doesn’t it seem like there’s always a ‘breakthrough’ that ends up going nowhere, what makes this different? hope it actually leads to something concrete
Really intresting study but i’m not sure how this will play out in real world scenarios, there’s always a gap between clinical studies and actual medical practice right?
thats all well and good but what are the costs gonna look like, these treatments sounds expensive and is it even gonna be accessible to the average person?