In kids with lung TB, the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 was found at higher levels in lung fluid compared to healthy kids, while another peptide, hBD‑2, was also a bit higher but not significantly. This suggests these peptides are part of the body’s response to TB, but the study doesn’t give any tips on how to use them for health or performance.

The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37/hCAP-18 and human β-defensins (hBD) are key factors in innate immune responses of the respiratory tract. To determine LL-37 and hBD-2 concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of paediatric patients (aged <16 years) with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to compare these with concentrations in healthy children. We measured peptide concentrations using an immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Forty TB patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study (mean age 9.2 ± 4.7 and 8.3 ± 4.2 years, respectively, P = 0.97). The two groups exhibited no statistically significant difference in terms of sex, body mass index, relative weight or 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The mean BAL LL-37 level of the TB group was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.95 ± standard deviation [SD] 1.33 vs. 0.35 ± SD 0.51 ng/ml, P = 0.01, t = 2.54). The hBD-2 level was also higher in the TB group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (0.30 ± SD 0.58 vs. 0.14 ± SD 0.30 ng/ml, P = 0.11). There was no correlation between LL-37, hBD-2 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that LL-37 and hBD-2 may play an important role in TB pathogenesis in children. To our knowledge, this is the first study on BAL LL-37 and hBD-2 concentrations in children with pulmonary TB.