Immunological characteristics of the elderly allograft recipient.

The increasing number of elderly people with a demand for organ transplantation poses an important medical challenge. The effect of aging on the immune system concerns wide modifications with a considerable influence on transplant outcomes. Aging causes significant changes in immune cells repertoire. Thymic involution impairs the production of new naïve cells. Immune remodeling induces important alterations in the activity of immunological molecules. Therefore, clinical implications in elderly transplant recipients should consider appropriate organ allocation with adequate individualization of immunosuppression.