An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Lee. Seon Gu SG; Yoon. Moon Soo MS; Kim. Dong Hyun DH; Shin. Jung U JU; Lee. Hee Jung HJ
The study shows that tiny fragments of hyaluronic acid (HA oligosaccharides) can calm down skin inflammation caused by the peptide LL-37, which is linked to rosacea. In lab-grown skin cells and a mouse model, adding HA oligos reduced inflammatory signals, lowered skin redness, and helped restore the skin barrier.
Myers. Sarah S; Do. Thuy T; Meade. Josephine L JL; Tugnait. Aradhna A; Vernon. Jon J JJ; Pistolic. J...
Researchers found that many common oral bacteria, especially Streptococcus mitis/oralis, can calm down inflammation in mouth cells by blocking a key signal (NF‑κB) and reducing a warning chemical (CXCL8). This suggests that a healthy mix of these bacteria might help keep the mouth and possibly the whole body less inflamed.
The study shows that two natural immune peptides, LL‑37 and HNP1, work together not only to kill bacteria but also to shield our own cells from damage. When both are present, they can change from breaking membranes (against microbes) to protecting them (against self‑damage). This suggests a built‑in safety switch that could matter if you ever use these peptides as supplements or therapies.
A two‑month, double‑blind study in people with mild‑to‑moderate ulcerative colitis found that taking 200 mg of CoQ10 each day lowered gut inflammation and boosted the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL‑37 in the blood, while improving symptoms and quality of life.
Deshpande. Dhruva D; Grieshober. Mark M; Wondany. Fanny F; Gerbl. Fabian F; Noschka. Reiner R; Micha...
The study shows that the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can get inside human immune cells (macrophages), find the compartments where TB bacteria hide, and break the bacteria’s wall, killing them. This was visualized using a super‑high‑resolution microscope, confirming that LL‑37 works inside cells, not just outside.
Scientists found that a short single‑strand DNA piece (ssON) can stop the skin‑irritating peptide LL‑37 and a similar compound from triggering mast cells, which cause itch and inflammation, at least in cell cultures and mouse tests.
LL-37 is a natural antimicrobial peptide made by immune cells and mouth lining that helps keep harmful bacteria away and supports gum health. People with Kostmann disease, who lack neutrophils and have very low LL-37, get severe gum disease even when their neutrophil counts are fixed, showing LL-37 itself is crucial for oral protection.
Li. Jun J; Jin. Ze-Hua ZH; Li. Jia-Sheng JS; Su. Liu-Yan LY; Wang. Ying-Xian YX; Zhang. Yi Y; Qin. D...
A traditional Chinese herbal mix called Compound Agrimony Enteritis Capsules (FFXHC) helped mice survive a deadly Candida infection, not by killing the fungus directly, but by reshaping gut bacteria, boosting immune cells, and increasing the body’s own antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. This effect was stronger than the single‑ingredient drug berberine, even though berberine does have some antifungal activity.
In a rabbit study, the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 cleared Staphylococcus aureus infections around broken femur pins better than the antibiotic cefalexin, cutting down bacterial colonies, biofilm buildup, and inflammation faster.
Diaz. Philip T PT; Ferketich. Amy A; Wewers. Mary E ME; Browning. Kristine K; Gavrilin. Mikhail A MA...
In people with HIV who smoke, higher levels of the nicotine marker cotinine are linked to lower levels of the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and the immune receptor NOD‑2 in lung immune cells, suggesting smoking weakens lung defenses.
Researchers tweaked a short piece of the human immune peptide LL‑37 and found some versions can kill lung cancer cells or bacteria in lab dishes without hurting red blood cells. The changes that worked involved swapping certain building blocks and adding short motifs called IIKK or LLKKL, which helped the peptide keep its helical shape and become more selective.
Cau. Laura L; Williams. Michael R MR; Butcher. Anna M AM; Nakatsuji. Teruaki T; Kavanaugh. Jeffrey S...
The study found that a common skin bacterium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, can produce a protease called EcpA that breaks down important skin proteins and the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, worsening atopic dermatitis. In some patients, higher levels of this enzyme were linked to more severe skin symptoms, while another skin microbe, Staphylococcus hominis, can suppress EcpA production.
Callahan. Brianna N BN; Kammala. Ananth K AK; Syed. Meesum M; Yang. Canchai C; Occhiuto. Christopher...
The study shows that osthole, a natural compound from plants, can calm down mast cells that cause allergic‑type reactions when they’re triggered by things like the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, substance P, or certain drugs. It works by lowering the cells' calcium spikes, preventing them from releasing inflammatory chemicals, and even reducing the amount of the receptor (MRGPRX2) on the cell surface. These effects were seen in lab dishes and in mice, suggesting osthole might help prevent pseudo‑allergic reactions, but human data are still missing.
Yagi. Haruyo H; Chen. Antonia F AF; Hirsch. David D; Rothenberg. Adam C AC; Tan. Jian J; Alexander....
Researchers found that fat‑derived stem cells can release the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, which kills Staph bacteria, and that giving these cells active vitamin D boosts LL‑37 production and their antibacterial effect. Blocking vitamin D signaling stops the benefit, showing vitamin D is key to this response.
People with rosacea tend to sleep worse, and bad sleep can make their skin condition more severe, likely because lack of sleep ramps up inflammation involving the peptide LL‑37 and other immune signals.
Jung. Han-Jin HJ; Lee. Seon Hwa SH; Kwack. Mi Hee MH; Lee. Weon Ju WJ
A lab study showed that red ginseng oil makes skin cells that are already inflamed (by bacterial LPS) produce more acne‑related chemicals, more sebum, and higher levels of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. In simple terms, red ginseng oil could worsen inflammatory acne, so people prone to breakouts should think twice before using it.
Scientists made tiny calcium‑phosphate particles that can hold a lot of the LL‑37 peptide, protect it from being broken down, and still let it kill bacteria, showing a possible way to make LL‑37 more stable for use.
The paper explains that vitamin D helps the body make a natural antimicrobial peptide called LL‑37, which boosts a cellular cleanup process called autophagy that can trap and destroy TB bacteria. While this is mostly a review of existing science, it suggests that getting enough vitamin D (and possibly zinc) could support your immune system’s ability to fight TB, though it’s not a substitute for standard TB drugs.
The paper suggests that COVID‑19 lung damage is driven largely by the inflammatory molecule TNF‑alpha, which blocks the lungs' ability to move salt and water and breaks down cell barriers, leading to fluid buildup. It proposes that boosting the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (for example with vitamin D) and using anti‑TNF strategies (like certain drugs, statins, aspirin, or curcumin) could help prevent or treat this problem, but the ideas are still mostly theoretical.
Davidovich. N V NV; Solovieva. N V NV; Galieva. A S AS; Lepeshkin. S Yu SY; Bashilova. E N EN; Pisar...
Researchers measured three natural antimicrobial peptides—LL‑37, beta‑defensin‑2 (HBD‑2) and alpha‑defensin (HNP‑1‑3)—in gum‑fluid washes from people with healthy gums, gingivitis, and chronic periodontitis. They found that HBD‑2 was much higher in periodontitis, while HNP‑1‑3 was lower, and these changes correlated with the presence of harmful bacteria. LL‑37 levels were measured but did not show a clear pattern in this study.