Wilkening. Reid V RV; Chang. Jennifer C JC; Federle. Michael J MJ
The study shows that a piece of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can trigger a bacterial sensor system (CovRS) in Streptococcus pyogenes, causing the enzyme PepO to break down signaling molecules the bacteria use to coordinate group behavior. This shuts down a quorum‑sensing pathway (Rgg2/3) that is active when the bacteria are not causing disease, helping the bacteria switch to a more aggressive state. The work is mainly about how the bacteria control their own virulence, not about human health benefits.
Bąbolewska. Edyta E; Brzezińska-Błaszczyk. Ewa E
The study shows that the human peptide LL-37 can directly fire up mast cells, causing them to release some inflammatory chemicals and move toward the site, but it doesn't trigger all the usual inflammatory pathways. This suggests LL-37 can boost early immune defenses, but it also raises inflammation, and the research doesn’t give any guidance on safe dosing for everyday use.
Choi. Se Young SY; Kim. Soon-Ja SJ; Chi. Byung Hoon BH; Kwon. Jong Kyou JK; Chang. In Ho IH
The study shows that bladder cancer cells make more of the peptide LL‑37 when they are exposed to the BCG vaccine used in bladder cancer treatment. Higher LL‑37 levels actually block BCG from getting inside the cancer cells, which reduces the vaccine's ability to kill the cells. When LL‑37 is blocked with an antibody, more BCG gets inside and the cancer cells die more.
Quraishi. Sadeq A SA; De Pascale. Gennaro G; Needleman. Joseph S JS; Nakazawa. Harumasa H; Kaneki. M...
To compare changes in vitamin D status and cathelicidin (LL-37) levels in septic ICU patients treated with placebo versus cholecalciferol.
Randomized, placebo-controlled, trial.
Medical and surgical ICUs of a single teaching hospital in Boston, MA.
Thirty adult ICU patients.
Placebo (n = 10) versus 200,000 IU cholecalciferol (n = 10) versus 400,000 IU cholecalciferol (n = 10), within 24 hours of new-onset severe sepsis or septic shock.
Blood samples were obtained at baseline (day 1) and on days 3, 5, and 7, to assess total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as well as vitamin D-binding protein and albumin to calculate bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Plasma LL-37 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were also measured. At baseline, median (interquartile range) plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 17 ng/mL (13-22 ng/mL) and peaked by day 5 in both intervention groups. Groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Relative to baseline, on day 5, median change in biomarkers for placebo, 200,000 IU cholecalciferol, and 400,000 IU cholecalciferol groups, respectively, were as follows: 1) total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 3% (-3% to 8%), 49% (30-82%), and 69% (55-106%) (p < 0.001); 2) bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 4% (-8% to 7%), 45% (40-70%), and 96% (58-136%) (p < 0.01); and 3) LL-37: -17% (-9% to -23%), 4% (-10% to 14%), and 30% (23-48%) (p = 0.04). Change in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels did not differ between groups. A positive correlation was observed between bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D and LL-37 (Spearman ρ = 0.44; p = 0.03) but not for total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and LL-37.
High-dose cholecalciferol supplementation rapidly and safely improves 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Changes in bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with concomitant increases in circulating LL-37 levels. Larger trials are needed to verify these findings and to assess whether optimizing vitamin D status improves sepsis-related clinical outcomes.
McCrudden. Maelíosa T C MTC; O'Donnell. Katherine K; Irwin. Chris R CR; Lundy. Fionnuala T FT
Error: Timeout.
Clausen. Maja-Lisa ML; Slotved. H-C HC; Krogfelt. Karen A KA; Agner. Tove T
Error: Timeout.
Sun. Congcong C; Zhu. Maoxiang M; Yang. Zhihua Z; Pan. Xiujie X; Zhang. Yuke Y; Wang. Qin Q; Xiao. W...
Emerging evidence suggests that the process of small airway remodeling is mediated by profibrotic growth factors produced by epithelium, which are capable of activating the underlying mesenchymal cells with excessive collagen production. It has been demonstrated that human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein LL-37 is highly expressed in small airway epithelium from COPD patients. However, it is unknown whether the increased levels of LL-37 in epithelium are involved in the pathogenesis of small airway remodeling in COPD. In this study, we examined the expression of LL-37 in small airways from smokers with COPD and controls (non-smokers and smokers without COPD) by immunohistochemistry, and then the association between LL-37 expression in epithelium and the structural changes of small airway remodeling was analyzed. In vitro, the effect of CSE-induced epithelial secretion of LL-37 on collagen production in human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1 cell line) was studied in a co-culture system. Finally, the signaling pathways involved in the effect of LL-37 on fibroblast collagen production were evaluated. The results showed that LL-37 immunoreactivity in airway epithelium was significantly elevated in smokers with COPD compared with controls. In addition, the magnitude of LL-37 expression in epithelium was positively correlated with airway wall thickness and collagen deposition. In vitro, CSE-induced epithelial secretion of LL-37 promoted fibroblast collagen production. Finally, we showed that formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1)-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway was essential for LL-37-induced collagen production in HFL-1 cells. These results suggest that after cigarette smoke exposure, the increased levels of LL-37 in airway epithelium could stimulate collagen production in the underlying lung fibroblasts and may contribute to small airway remodeling in COPD.
Honda. Jennifer R JR; Connick. Elizabeth E; MaWhinney. Samantha S; Chan. Edward D ED; Flores. Sonia...
Low levels of the vitamin D-regulated antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin (LL-37) may negatively impact the immune status of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected individuals (HIV+). We compared plasma LL-37 levels in healthy controls (HIV-) and HIV+ individuals on or off antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) (ART+ and ART-, respectively), and evaluated the relationship between vitamin D and LL-37 levels. In this cross-sectional study, levels of LL-37, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D3] and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] were measured from an initial cohort of 18 healthy controls and 10 HIV+/ART- individuals. Because this cohort lacked HIV+/ART+ subjects, LL-37 was also quantified from a second cohort of 10 HIV+/ART- and 13 HIV+/ART+ individuals. LL-37 levels were significantly lower in the HIV+/ART- group compared to the healthy controls (P = 0.01). A direct relationship was observed between LL-37 and both 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3. The level of 25(OH)D3 was predictive of higher LL-37 (P = 0.04) and for any given level of 25(OH)D3, HIV+/ART- subjects averaged 20 % lower LL-37 compared to the healthy controls (P = 0.045). For any given level of 1,25(OH)2D3, HIV+/ART- subjects averaged 25% lower LL-37 compared to the healthy controls (P = 0.018), although 1,25(OH)2D3 was not predictive of higher LL-37 (P = 0.28). Finally, LL-37 levels were significantly lower in the HIV+/ART- group compared to the HIV+/ART+ group from the second cohort (P = 0.045). Untreated HIV infection may contribute to lower LL-37 levels, independent of vitamin D levels. ART treatment may potentially mitigate this decrease in LL-37 levels.
Thomassin. Jenny-Lee JL; Lee. Mark J MJ; Brannon. John R JR; Sheppard. Donald C DC; Gruenheid. Saman...
The study shows that a type of gut bacteria (EPEC) protects itself from a natural human antimicrobial protein called HD‑5 by using a sugar‑based capsule and a part of its outer membrane called the O‑antigen. When these structures are removed, the bacteria become much more vulnerable to HD‑5, and adding the sugars back can shield them again.
Chi. Z Z; Wang. Z Z; Wang. K K; Zhu. Y Y; Qin. S S
The study shows that in a specific ear disease called cholesteatoma, a protein called LL-37 binds to DNA inside cells and triggers inflammation. This link helps explain why the disease gets inflamed, but it doesn't suggest any new ways to use LL-37 for health or performance.
Lee. Hakmo H; Park. Ho Seon HS; Choi. Ok Kyung OK; Oh. Ju Eun JE; Chung. Sung Soo SS; Jung. Hye Seun...
The study tested a peptide called LL‑37 to see if it could help transplanted blood‑forming stem cells settle better in the bone marrow. It turned out that LL‑37 actually harms the long‑term survival of these cells, while another compound, AICAR, improves it. So using LL‑37 before stem‑cell transplants isn’t a good idea.
Santos. Catherine M CM; Kumar. Amit A; Kolar. Satya S SS; Contreras-Caceres. Rafael R; McDermott. Al...
The paper describes a lab technique for sticking an antimicrobial peptide called IG‑25 onto plastic surfaces using special fluorous tags and click chemistry, which makes the surface better at killing eye‑infection bacteria.
van Sorge. Nina M NM; Cole. Jason N JN; Kuipers. Kirsten K; Henningham. Anna A; Aziz. Ramy K RK; Kas...
The research shows that a sugar coating on Group A Strep bacteria helps it avoid being killed by the immune system, including the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. When that sugar is removed, the bacteria become much easier for immune cells and LL‑37 to destroy, and antibodies that target the remaining part of the coating can protect against infection. This is mainly useful for vaccine design, not for everyday health hacks.
Thomassin. Jenny-Lee JL; Brannon. John R JR; Kaiser. Julienne J; Gruenheid. Samantha S; Le Moual. He...
The study shows that two gut bacteria, EHEC and EPEC, handle the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 differently because EHEC makes more of a protein (OmpT) that breaks down LL‑37. This difference is due to variations in the gene’s promoter region, letting EHEC better survive where LL‑37 is higher in the intestine.
Scola. N N; Skrygan. M M; Wieland. U U; Kreuter. A A; Gambichler. T T
The study looked at skin samples from a rare skin condition, psoriasis, and skin cancer to see which proteins are present, including the peptide LL‑37. It found that a protein called p16 was high in the rare condition but not in the cancer, and another protein, psoriasin, was high in all three skin types. LL‑37 levels weren’t highlighted as changing, so the research doesn’t give any new tips on using LL‑37 for health or performance.
Sun. C-L CL; Zhang. F-Z FZ; Li. P P; Bi. L-Q LQ
The study found that people with the autoimmune disease lupus have higher levels of the peptide LL‑37, certain immune cells (pDCs), and a signaling molecule (IFN‑α) in their skin, and these three things tend to rise together.
Jung. Yu-Jin YJ; Lee. Soon-Youl SY; Moon. Yong-Sun YS; Kang. Kwon-Kyoo KK
Scientists inserted the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 into Chinese cabbage and found the engineered plants got better at fighting bacterial and fungal infections, with disease spots shrinking to less than half the size seen in normal plants.
Schittek. Birgit B
In people with eczema (atopic dermatitis), the skin’s natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 isn’t always low – newer studies show it can be as high or higher than in healthy skin. However, these patients still get frequent Staph infections, meaning the peptide either isn’t working well enough or other factors (like a leaky barrier) are to blame. Raising LL‑37 levels and fixing the skin’s barrier might help the skin fight germs better.
Papasergi. Salvatore S; Brega. Sara S; Mistou. Michel-Yves MY; Firon. Arnaud A; Oxaran. Virginie V;...
The study looked at a bacterial protein called PilB that helps a newborn‑infection bug (Group B Strep) cause disease in baby mice. Removing PilB made the bacteria less deadly to newborns, but it didn’t change how well immune cells or the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 killed the bacteria. In short, PilB matters for infection in newborns, but not for resisting LL‑37.
Warner. Douglas M DM; Levy. Stuart B SB
This research shows that the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can make E. coli bacteria turn on resistance genes, especially through a regulator called Rob, which can make the bacteria harder to kill with antibiotics and other antimicrobial peptides. Different bacterial regulators (MarA, SoxS, Rob) affect how the bacteria respond, but the findings don’t give any direct tips for human health or supplementation.