An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
An. Li-Li LL; Yang. Ying-Hua YH; Ma. Xiao-Tong XT; Lin. Yong-Min YM; Li. Ge G; Song. Yu-Hua YH; Wu....
Scientists attached the immune‑boosting peptide LL‑37 directly to a DNA vaccine targeting a cancer‑related receptor in mice, and this combo sparked stronger antibody and killer‑cell responses and helped the mice live longer after tumor exposure. Simply giving LL‑37 alongside the vaccine didn’t work, showing the fusion is crucial. The work is still early‑stage animal research and not a ready‑to‑use protocol for people.
Tjabringa. G Sandra GS; Ninaber. Dennis K DK; Drijfhout. Jan Wouter JW; Rabe. Klaus F KF; Hiemstra....
The study shows that the natural peptide LL‑37 can pull immune cells called eosinophils and neutrophils into the lungs, which may worsen conditions like asthma and COPD. It works through a specific receptor (FPR) but signals differently than other known attractants. This is mainly a basic science finding, not a new treatment tip.
Starner. Timothy D TD; Agerberth. Birgitta B; Gudmundsson. Gudmundur H GH; McCray. Paul B PB
The study looked at natural antimicrobial proteins in newborn lungs and found that one called HBD‑2 is the main defender, its levels rise with gestational age, and it’s boosted by inflammation but lowered by steroids. Other proteins like LL‑37 weren’t seen in the newborn airway cells.
The study shows that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can change how mouse salivary gland cells handle calcium and certain enzymes, but it doesn’t work through the usual P2X7 receptor pathway and the effects were seen only in isolated mouse cells.
The study found that MRSA bacteria are more resistant to the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 when they have a higher overall electric charge on their surface. This resistance was not seen with another peptide, hBD3, and was linked to how strongly the bacteria resist methicillin.
Méndez-Samperio. Patricia P; Miranda. Elena E; Trejo. Artemisa A
The study shows that exposing lung cells to the BCG vaccine triggers the cells to make more of the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, and that this boost depends on specific cell signaling pathways (MEK1/2 and p38 MAPK). Blocking those pathways or stopping new RNA production stops the increase.
People with acute myeloid leukemia have far less of the natural antibiotic peptide LL‑37 in their blood cells, which may help explain why they get infections easily. The drop isn’t because the gene is turned off, and typical lab tricks like adding bacterial components or forcing cells to mature don’t bring the peptide back.
Gabriel. Matthias M; Nazmi. Kamran K; Veerman. Enno C EC; Nieuw Amerongen. Arie V AV; Zentner. Andre...
Scientists attached the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 to titanium using a special chemical linker, and the coated metal killed bacteria when they touched it. The method keeps the peptide active, but it needs lab‑grade chemistry and equipment, so it isn’t something you can easily do at home.
Herasimenka. Yury Y; Benincasa. Monica M; Mattiuzzo. Maura M; Cescutti. Paola P; Gennaro. Renato R;...
The study shows that slime‑like sugars made by lung bacteria can stick to the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, weakening its ability to kill bugs. Different bacteria affect LL‑37’s shape and how strongly they bind, but overall the binding can block the peptide’s defense role in the airways.
The research shows that the gene for the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (cathelicidin) is present as a single copy in virtually everyone, meaning there’s no common genetic variation that changes how much of it you can naturally make.
Gambichler. T T; Skrygan. M M; Tomi. N S NS; Altmeyer. P P; Kreuter. A A
A small study looked at how a type of UV light therapy (NB-UVB) changes skin antimicrobial peptide genes in people with atopic eczema. The treatment improved skin scores and altered two peptide genes (hBD‑1 went up, hBD‑2 went down), but it didn’t affect the LL‑37 gene. This suggests that UV therapy can shift some skin defense molecules, but it doesn’t give new ways to use LL‑37 for health or performance.
Baechle. Daniel D; Flad. Thomas T; Cansier. Alexander A; Steffen. Heiko H; Schittek. Birgit B; Tolso...
Researchers found that the enzyme cathepsin D is naturally present and active in human sweat, where it chops up the antimicrobial peptide DCD‑1L into several smaller pieces. One of these new fragments is even better at killing E. coli, while another common sweat peptide, LL‑37, isn’t affected. The work shows how our skin’s own enzymes can fine‑tune its natural defenses, but it doesn’t suggest any new supplement or routine for most biohackers.
Howell. Michael D MD; Novak. Natalija N; Bieber. Thomas T; Pastore. Saveria S; Girolomoni. Giampiero...
The study found that a molecule called IL-10, which is higher in both types of atopic dermatitis skin, suppresses the skin's natural antibiotics like LL‑37, making infections more likely. Blocking IL-10 in lab experiments restored these antimicrobial peptides, showing the deficiency is caused by inflammation rather than a genetic flaw.
The paper explains that tiny proteins like LL‑37 and defensins help keep your mouth healthy by stopping harmful microbes and supporting the good bacteria that live there. It shows that normal oral cells make more of a defensin called hBD‑2 when they sense friendly bacteria, which boosts the mouth’s natural defenses. While interesting, the study doesn’t give any specific tips or dosages for using these peptides in everyday health hacks.
Akinbi. Henry T HT; Narendran. Vivek V; Pass. Amy Kun AK; Markart. Philipp P; Hoath. Steven B SB
The study looked at the natural antimicrobial proteins in the skin coating (vernix) and fluid around a baby before birth and found that the peptide LL‑37 isn’t present there, while other proteins like lysozyme and lactoferrin are. This means LL‑37 isn’t a natural component of these fluids, so the paper doesn’t give new ways to use it for health hacks.
Pietiäinen. Milla M; Gardemeister. Marika M; Mecklin. Maria M; Leskelä. Soile S; Sarvas. M...
The study looked at how the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 affects a common soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. It found that even low amounts of LL‑37 trigger a bunch of stress‑response genes in the bacteria, turning on several signaling systems that help the microbe cope with the peptide. This is about bacterial biology, not a direct health benefit for people.
Stoeckelhuber. Mechthild M; Messmer. Elisabeth M EM; Schubert. Christoph C; Stoeckelhuber. Beate M B...
The study found that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, along with two defensins, is naturally present in the tiny glands at the edge of our eyelids (Moll glands). These proteins likely help protect the eye surface from germs, but the research does not suggest any new ways to use LL‑37 as a supplement or treatment.
Yoshio. Hiroyuki H; Lagercrantz. Hugo H; Gudmundsson. Gudmundur H GH; Agerberth. Birgitta B
LL-37 is a natural antimicrobial protein that’s already present in newborns – in their skin, immune cells and the protective coating called vernix. It helps fight germs and also signals other parts of the immune system.
Yang. Ying-Hua YH; Zheng. Guo-Guang GG; Li. Ge G; Zhang. Bin B; Song. Yu-Hua YH; Wu. Ke-Fu KF
The study looked at how much of the immune peptide LL‑37 is made in different leukemia cell lines and patient blood cells. It found that while many cells have the LL‑37 gene turned on, only a few actually make the peptide protein, especially in certain leukemia types, which may help explain why these patients get infections easily.
Conner. Kimberly K; Nern. Karen K; Rudisill. Jennifer J; O'Grady. Terrence T; Gallo. Richard L RL
The study found that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 is naturally produced at much higher levels in skin warts caused by human papillomavirus, suggesting the body’s immune system ramps it up during these infections.