ARTURO

The ARTURO project aims to address the expected increase in cases of pulmonary fibrosis following COVID-19 infection by developing an alternative therapy to current antifibrotic treatments, offering improved safety, efficacy, and economic sustainability. It introduces an innovative cell-free regenerative approach based on the secretome derived from heterologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This ready-to-use, easily storable formulation is designed to retain the regenerative and antifibrotic properties of MSCs while minimizing risks, regulatory complexity, and production costs. Project activities include the development of a standardized injectable formulation, in vitro assessment of its effects on TGF-β1-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and in vivo validation in a murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Proteomic and network analyses will be employed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, key pathways, and therapeutic targets modulated by the treatment.