An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Ottosson. H H; Nylén. F F; Sarker. P P; Miraglia. E E; Bergman. P P; Gudmundsson. G H GH; Raqib...
Scientists found a new class of compounds called aroylated phenylenediamines (APDs) that can make our bodies produce a lot more of the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 – up to 20‑30 times more in lab tests. When one of these compounds was given by mouth to rabbits with a severe gut infection, the animals got better in just a few days, suggesting the approach could help fight infections by boosting our own defenses.
Rekha. Rokeya Sultana RS; Rao Muvva. S S V Jagadeeswara SS; Wan. Min M; Raqib. Rubhana R; Bergman. P...
The study shows that the drug phenylbutyrate (PBA) can boost the body’s own antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and trigger a cell‑cleaning process called autophagy, which together help human immune cells kill the tuberculosis bacteria in lab experiments. This effect depends on LL‑37 and involves specific cell receptors and signaling pathways.
Cobo. Eduardo R ER; Kissoon-Singh. Vanessa V; Moreau. France F; Holani. Ravi R; Chadee. Kris K
The study shows that the gut‑protective mucus protein MUC2 works together with the short‑chain fatty acid butyrate (made by gut bacteria from fiber) to boost the body’s natural antibiotic peptide LL‑37 in the colon. When MUC2 is low or missing, LL‑37 production drops, even during infection or inflammation, indicating a healthy mucus layer is key for this immune defense.
Das. Sushmita S; Sardar. Abul Hasan AH; Abhishek. Kumar K; Kumar. Ajay A; Rabidas. Vidya Nand VN; Da...
The study shows that low vitamin D in patients with a skin form of leishmaniasis is linked to low levels of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and its receptor VDR. Giving vitamin D or the drug Amphotericin B raises LL‑37 in immune cells, and higher LL‑37 makes the drug kill the parasite better by boosting the cells' ability to fight infection.
Schögler. Aline A; Muster. Ricardo J RJ; Kieninger. Elisabeth E; Casaulta. Carmen C; Tapparel....
Vitamin D can lower the amount of common cold virus (rhinovirus) that infects lung cells from cystic fibrosis patients by boosting the body’s own antimicrobial peptide called LL‑37. The study showed that more vitamin D led to higher LL‑37 levels, and adding LL‑37 directly also cut the virus’s replication. This suggests that keeping vitamin D levels sufficient might help the immune system fight viral lung infections, especially for people with cystic fibrosis, though real‑world dosing still needs testing.
The natural peptide LL-37, which the body makes more of when you have enough vitamin D, can stick to hepatitis C virus particles and make them less able to infect liver cells. It doesn’t stop the virus from copying itself once it’s inside the cell, but it blocks the virus before it gets in. This helps explain why vitamin D can improve standard hepatitis C treatments.
Svensson. Daniel D; Nebel. Daniel D; Nilsson. Bengt-Olof BO
Vitamin D's active form can turn on the gene that makes the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and can calm down inflammatory signals, which may help protect against infections and chronic inflammation—key factors for longevity. However, it’s still unclear how much extra active LL‑37 you actually get from normal vitamin D supplementation.
Wang. F F; Huo. Y Y; Yin. L R LR; Sun. B B; Zhang. P P PP
In a mouse study, a lab‑made version of the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 was applied inside the vagina and it cut the amount of Candida fungus by about half. It also boosted a helpful immune signal (IFN‑γ) and lowered an anti‑inflammatory signal (IL‑10), suggesting it improves local immunity. The results point to LL‑37 as a promising topical antifungal, but the work is still early and only in animals.
Bonucci. Alessio A; Caldaroni. Elena E; Balducci. Enrico E; Pogni. Rebecca R
The study shows that the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 sticks to both bacterial‑like (negatively charged) and human‑like (neutral) cell membranes, but it behaves differently: on bacterial membranes it forms stable groups that can punch holes, while on human membranes it forms larger clusters. This suggests LL‑37 isn’t strictly selective for bacteria and may also affect host cells in more complex ways.
Qin. G T GT; Lopez. A A; Santos. C C; McDermott. A M AM; Cai. C Z CZ
The study shows that sticking the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 onto negatively charged surfaces can kill bacteria effectively while being gentle on human cells, suggesting a way to make safer antibacterial coatings.
Henkel. Arne A; Tausch. Lars L; Pillong. Max M; Jauch. Johann J; Karas. Michael M; Schneider. Gisber...
Researchers found that compounds in frankincense, called boswellic acids, stick to the human immune peptide LL‑37 and block its ability to neutralize bacterial toxins. This explains part of why boswellic acids reduce inflammation, but it also means they might weaken a natural antimicrobial defense. The work was done in test‑tube and cell experiments, not in people.
Lee. Jee-Bum JB; Bae. Soo Hyeon SH; Moon. Ki Rang KR; Na. Eui Young EY; Yun. Sook Jung SJ; Lee. Seun...
The study shows that red (630 nm) and near‑infrared (940 nm) LED light can lower the levels of the inflammatory peptide LL‑37, the enzyme KLK5, and the receptor TLR‑2 in skin cells and in a mouse model of rosacea. This suggests that using LED devices at these wavelengths might help calm rosacea‑related skin inflammation, although human trials are still needed.
Short versions of the immune peptide LL‑37 can still kill bacteria, but they stick to actin less tightly than the full‑length peptide and their killing power drops a lot when salt is present. One short piece, FK‑13, stays active when actin is around because actin shields it from bacterial enzymes that would normally chew it up. This means that using these tiny peptides in the body may need either low‑salt conditions or a way to pair them with actin‑like protection.
Adase. Christopher A CA; Borkowski. Andrew W AW; Zhang. Ling-Juan LJ; Williams. Michael R MR; Sato....
The study shows that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, when combined with a type of RNA that signals damage, makes skin cells produce a lot of growth‑factor proteins that help repair tissue. This was seen in lab dishes with skin and blood‑vessel cells, not in people. It suggests LL‑37 could be useful in skin‑healing or anti‑aging products, but more work is needed before it can be recommended for real‑world use.
Lin. Leo L; Nonejuie. Poochit P; Munguia. Jason J; Hollands. Andrew A; Olson. Joshua J; Dam. Quang Q...
This study shows that the common antibiotic azithromycin, which usually isn’t used for tough Gram‑negative infections, can actually kill these drug‑resistant bugs when it works together with the body’s own antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 or with colistin, and it even helped mice survive infections. This suggests azithromycin might be useful in treating hard‑to‑cure infections, especially in combination with other agents, but it’s not a DIY cure and should be used under medical guidance.
Mily. Akhirunnesa A; Rekha. Rokeya Sultana RS; Kamal. S M Mostafa SM; Arifuzzaman. Abu Saleh Mohamma...
A Bangladeshi trial gave TB patients extra vitamin D3 (5,000 IU) and phenylbutyrate (500 mg twice daily) alongside standard drugs and found they cleared the infection faster, likely because these supplements boosted the body’s antimicrobial peptide LL‑37.
Ron-Doitch. Sapir S; Sawodny. Beate B; Kühbacher. Andreas A; David. Mirjam M Nordling MMN; Sama...
Putting the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 inside tiny fat bubbles (liposomes) makes it far less toxic to skin cells and boosts its ability to stop herpes virus infection, even at very high doses, while staying stable for over a year.
Reins. Rose Yvonne RY; Baidouri. Hasna H; McDermott. Alison Marie AM
The study shows that human eye surface cells can turn inactive vitamin D into its active form, which then boosts the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and cuts down inflammation‑related signals when the cells are challenged, suggesting vitamin D could help protect the cornea from infection and inflammation.
Scarsini. Michele M; Tomasinsig. Linda L; Arzese. Alessandra A; D'Este. Francesca F; Oro. Debora D;...
The study shows that the antimicrobial peptide BMAP-28 can kill Candida yeast cells and break down their protective biofilms at low‑micromolar doses in lab tests, while the related peptide LL‑37 is much weaker. Both peptides also stop new biofilms from forming on plastic and silicone surfaces, especially when the surfaces are pre‑coated with the peptides.
Pound. Lynley D LD; Patrick. Christopher C; Eberhard. Chandra E CE; Mottawea. Walid W; Wang. Gen-She...
The study shows that the natural peptide LL‑37, also called cathelicidin, is made in pancreas beta cells and can boost insulin and glucagon release, help new beta cells grow, and shift gut bacteria toward a healthier mix in diabetic‑prone rats. While promising for blood‑sugar control and gut health, it’s still early‑stage animal work and not yet a ready‑to‑use supplement for people.