DNA Methylation Age Is More Closely Associated With Infection Risk Than Chronological Age in Kidney Transplant...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gerontology
• Transplantation Science

Background:

• Older kidney transplant recipients experience higher infection rates and lower rejection rates, suggesting functional overimmunosuppression.
• Biological aging may reduce immunological activity, contributing to increased infection risk in elderly transplant patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if immune biological age, determined by DNA methylation (DNAm), correlates more strongly with infection incidence than chronological age in kidney transplant recipients.
• To explore the potential of DNAm age as a biomarker for stratifying risk and individualizing immunosuppression.

Main Methods:

• DNA methylation (DNAm) analysis was conducted on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 60 kidney transplant recipients (older ≥60 years, younger 30-59 years) three months post-transplant.
• Immune biological age was calculated using a validated panel of CpG sites indicative of epigenetic aging.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between increased DNAm age and infection incidence within the first year post-transplantation.
• Chronological age did not show a significant association with infection incidence, despite a correlation between chronological and DNAm age.
• Many patients exhibited significant differences between their DNAm age and chronological age, indicating epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration.

Conclusions:

• DNA methylation age assessment shows promise for evaluating kidney transplant recipients and tailoring immunosuppression regimens.
• Measuring biological age could offer insights into the immunological mechanisms underlying increased infection rates in older transplant patients.
• Individualized risk stratification based on biological age may improve outcomes for the increasing population of older kidney transplant recipients.