Machine perfusion may reverse molecular aging in donor livers
Researchers used epigenetic aging clocks to analyze DNA marks in donated livers and found that organs kept on perfusion machines appeared biologically younger than their chronological age. This molecular rejuvenation could explain why perfused livers tend to have better transplant outcomes. The team hopes the findings will lead to new ways to assess organ health and potentially repair organs that might otherwise be discarded.
The research team examined epigenetic patterns—chemical marks on DNA that shift with age—across multiple sample sets. Initial analysis covered 37 samples from 19 donated livers, followed by a larger set of 208 samples from 103 organs. In most transplant cases, surgeons took a second biopsy roughly an hour after restoring blood flow in the recipient.
Perfusion machines circulate oxygenated nutrients at 34 degrees Celsius, mimicking conditions inside the body. The clocks indicated these organs appeared biologically younger than cold-stored counterparts, even when the perfused livers came from older donors. The researchers suggest this molecular reversal may explain why perfused organs show lower failure rates after transplantation.
This research could reshape how transplant teams evaluate and prepare donor organs. If biological age proves a reliable indicator of organ viability, doctors may gain a tool for deciding which livers are safe to use—potentially salvaging organs currently discarded. Recipients could benefit from reduced wait times and improved outcomes. However, the findings are preliminary, and translating epigenetic measurements into clinical practice will require further validation before such assessments become routine in transplant settings.