The study shows that two natural skin peptides, LL‑37 and hBD‑2, can cut down the amount of chicken‑pox‑shingles virus (VZV) in skin cells and immune cells in lab dishes. Adding these peptides directly lowered virus levels, and blocking them removed the benefit, meaning they’re actively fighting the virus. However, the work is only in cell cultures, so we don’t yet know how to use them safely or effectively in people.

There is mounting evidence that antimicrobial peptides have an important role in cutaneous defence, but the expression of these antimicrobial peptides in atopic eczema (AE) is still unclear. There are several families of antimicrobial peptides, including cathelicidins and human β-defensins. Patients with AE are more susceptible to severe cutaneous viral infections, including varicella zoster virus (VZV). To characterize the functional activity of the antimicrobial peptides LL-37 (human cathelicidin) and human β-defensin (hBD)-2 keratinocytes were infected with VZV, in a skin-infection model. Flow-cytometry analysis was used to investigate LL-37 expression in normal human keratinocytes, and quantitative PCR was used to determine viral loads in infected HaCaT keratinocytes and B cells, with and without exogenous LL-37 and hBD-2. LL-37 expression was present in keratinocytes, and both exogenous LL-37 and hBD-2 significantly reduced VZV load in infected keratinocytes and B cells. Specific antibodies blocked the antiviral action exhibited by these antimicrobial peptides. Pre-incubation of VZV with LL-37, but not hBD-2, further reduced VZV load. Both LL-37 and hBD-2 have an antiviral effect on VZV replication in the keratinocyte HaCaT cell line and in B cells, but their mechanism of action is different. Evidence of the relationship between antimicrobial peptide expression and higher susceptibility to infections in AE skin is still emerging. Developing novel antiviral therapies based on antimicrobial peptides may provide improved treatment options for patients with AE.