# The composition of single-donor apheresis platelet concentrates is influenced by the age of the donor

## TL;DR

This study shows that the levels of certain cytokines in platelet donations increase with donor age and may be linked to transfusion adverse reactions.

## Contribution

The study identifies age-related changes in cytokine levels in platelet concentrates and their potential role in transfusion adverse reactions.

## Key findings

- Cytokine levels like MIP-1α, GDF-15, and sCD62P increase with donor aging.
- MDC levels decrease with increasing donor age.
- GDF-15 is the only cytokine showing a positive correlation with age in adverse reactions.

## Abstract

The aging population often faces health issues that sometimes necessitate transfusions. Transfusion services are increasingly concerned about the rising number of transfusions and the aging donor population, as both factors are crucial in maintaining the quality of blood donations. In this context, our study aims to measure the bioactive molecule cytokine levels in single donor apheresis platelet concentrates (SDA-PC) based on the donor’s age and to determine whether these cytokines, in conjunction with the donor age, could contribute to transfusion adverse reactions (AR). Our findings indicate that well-known platelet molecules such as sCD62P, as well as IL-13, ADAMTS13, MIP-1α, NGAL, MCP-3, HSAA, GDF-15, CX3CL1, and MDC, were present in SDA-PC. Levels of MIP-1α, GDF-15, and sCD62P increased with donor aging, whereas levels of MDC decreased. In conclusion, most of the cytokine levels detected were elevated in cases of AR and with increasing donor age. Notably, GDF-15 was the only cytokine that showed a positive correlation with age in the context of AR.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-97916-1.