Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung condition characterized by rapid onset of widespread lung inflammation, leading to respiratory failure. Despite advances in treatment, ARDS has a high mortality rate, ranging from 30% to 50%. Survivors often experience long-term complications, including physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments. A key challenge in managing ARDS is preventing and treating pulmonary fibrosis, which can arise from the lung's inflammatory and reparative processes. Even though this is a life-threatening condition, no effective causal drug for prevention or therapy has been developed and implemented to date. The primary treatment strategy is supportive care. Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 (FGF10) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family. Given its regenerative and protective properties, FGF10 has garnered significant interest as a potential therapeutic agent for lung diseases. In the context of pulmonary biology, FGF10 is essential for lung development during embryogenesis and has emerged as a key mediator of lung repair and regeneration in postnatal life. Its ability to promote epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival makes it a promising therapeutic target for acute and chronic lung injuries, incl. ARDS. Preclinical studies in animal models have so far demonstrated the efficacy of FGF10 in reducing lung injury, promoting alveolar regeneration and preventing the development of pulmonary fibrosis by modulating fibroblast activity. The main limitation for the wider use of FGF10 in this indication is its short biological half-life. Thanks to protein engineering, in this project we can now work with a stable version of this protein (FGF10-STAB), which opens a whole new dimension in the context of lung regeneration. FGF10-STAB is a candidate molecule with promising preclinical efficacy results that outcompetes native FGF10.

Keywords
Lipopolysaccharide, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Lung regeneration, Fibroproliferation, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Ex vivo models, Spheroids, Liposome, Polymerosome, Computational Fluid and Particle Dynamics

NW26-08-00103

English

Vojtová Lucy, doc. Ing., Ph.D. - principal person responsible
Kánská Jana, Ing. - fellow researcher
Kotouček Jan, Ing., Ph.D. - fellow researcher
Kreuzerová Monika, Ing. - fellow researcher
Lízal František, doc. Ing., Ph.D. - fellow researcher
Prinz František, Ing. - fellow researcher

Advanced Biomaterials
- responsible department (20.3.2025 - not assigned)
Dept. of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering
- co-beneficiary (1.1.2026 - 31.12.2029)
Advanced Biomaterials
- beneficiary (20.3.2025 - 31.12.2029)

Responsibility: Vojtová Lucy, doc. Ing., Ph.D.