An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Kilsgård. Ola O; Andersson. Pia P; Malmsten. Martin M; Nordin. Sara L SL; Linge. Helena M HM; E...
The study shows that enzymes called PAD2 and PAD4, which are higher in smokers and people with COPD, change the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 into a modified form. This change makes LL‑37 weaker at killing common lung bacteria, makes it attract immune cells more, but also makes it break down faster and less able to neutralize harmful bacterial components. For anyone using LL‑37 as a supplement, the findings suggest its effectiveness can be reduced by lung inflammation or smoking.
Lebeer. Sarah S; Claes. Ingmar J J IJ; Verhoeven. Tine L A TL; Vanderleyden. Jos J; De Keersmaecker....
The study shows that the sugary coating (exopolysaccharides) on the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG helps it survive the gut’s natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and other immune factors. When the coating is missing, the bacteria disappear faster in the intestine, even though they stick to gut cells better in lab tests. Exposure to low levels of LL‑37 makes the bacteria produce more of this protective coating.
Beard. Jeremy A JA; Bearden. Allison A; Striker. Rob R
Vitamin D isn’t just for bones – it helps the immune system and can boost the body’s natural antiviral peptide LL‑37, which may lower the chance of getting flu or other viral infections.
The paper explains how to make antimicrobial peptides like LL‑37 in bacteria, using fusion tags to keep the bacteria alive and then cutting the tag off to get the pure peptide. It’s a review of methods, not a new experiment, but it gives a clear overview of the steps needed for large‑scale production.
The study shows that three synthetic peptides (IDR‑HH2, IDR‑1002, IDR‑1018) can change how human neutrophils behave: they stick better to blood‑vessel walls, move toward signals, release more antimicrobial proteins like LL‑37, and kill bacteria more effectively, while also dialing down harmful inflammation.
Sonawane. Avinash A; Santos. José Carlos JC; Mishra. Bibhuti B BB; Jena. Prajna P; Progida. Cin...
The antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 helps immune cells destroy TB‑related bacteria, and vitamin D can boost its production. Lab tests showed that adding LL‑37 or increasing its levels in cells cuts down bacterial survival, while removing it makes killing harder. Engineered versions of LL‑37 were even more powerful, but they’re still experimental.
Dean. Scott N SN; Bishop. Barney M BM; van Hoek. Monique L ML
Researchers tested natural and synthetic versions of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and related snake‑derived peptides against Staph aureus, a common wound‑infecting bug that forms tough biofilms. They found that LL‑37 and a mirror‑image version (D‑LL‑37) can kill the bacteria and stop biofilm formation at very low concentrations, and a specially designed short peptide from the cobra (NA‑CATH:ATRA1‑ATRA1) works even better in salty conditions with little toxicity to human cells. These results point to peptide‑based creams or gels as a future way to treat chronic infected wounds, though they’re still early‑stage lab findings.
Zhang. Jianxing J; Xu. Xiaoyu X; Rao. Narayanam V NV; Argyle. Brian B; McCoard. Lindsi L; Rusho. Wil...
Researchers found that a new type of negatively charged sugar molecule (called SAGE) can stick to the skin‑irritating peptide LL‑37, stop it from causing inflammation, and reduce redness and immune cell buildup in mouse skin, suggesting a possible new skin cream for rosacea.
Morris. Christopher J CJ; Beck. Konrad K; Fox. Marc A MA; Ulaeto. David D; Clark. Graeme C GC; Gumbl...
Adding a polyethylene glycol (PEG) tag to the antimicrobial peptide CaLL – a hybrid of LL‑37 and cecropin A – keeps most of its ability to kill lung‑infecting bacteria while dramatically lowering the damage it can cause to lung cells. In rat lung experiments, the PEG‑tagged version didn't break the lung barrier or cause edema, unlike the unmodified peptide. Both forms stay mostly in the lung and aren't absorbed into the bloodstream, which is good for targeting infections there.
Kin. Nicholas W NW; Chen. Yao Y; Stefanov. Emily K EK; Gallo. Richard L RL; Kearney. John F JF
The study shows that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (called mCRAMP in mice) is made by both B‑cells and T‑cells and can change how these cells work. Mice that lack LL‑37 make different types of antibodies and their T‑cells produce more of the allergy‑related signal IL‑4, but adding the peptide back normalizes these effects. This suggests LL‑37 helps keep the immune system balanced, especially the part that controls allergies and vaccine responses.
A short, intense workout makes your mouth produce more of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 (and another one called HBD‑2) for a few hours, while also raising cortisol and lowering IgA. This suggests a temporary boost in oral immune defense after hard exercise.
The study shows that the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (along with other defensins) not only kills bacteria but also slows down the programmed death of neutrophils, a key immune cell. By keeping neutrophils alive longer, LL‑37 may help the body fight infections more effectively.
Kumar. Amit A; Kolar. Satya S SS; Zao. Meriong M; McDermott. Alison M AM; Cai. Chengzhi C
The study shows that a shortened version of the LL‑37 peptide, when chemically attached to specially made liposome particles, kills the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa about 18 times better than the free peptide, and it doesn’t hurt human eye cells any more.
Grönberg. Alvar A; Zettergren. Louise L; Agren. Magnus S MS
The study shows that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 isn’t quickly broken down by the enzymes found in chronic leg ulcers, especially when mixed with wound fluid, meaning it could stay active long enough to help heal these stubborn wounds.
Papiliocin is a newly discovered 37‑amino‑acid peptide from a butterfly that can kill bacteria—especially Gram‑negative ones—while being gentle on human cells, and it also cuts down inflammation markers in immune cells, acting much like the well‑known human peptide LL‑37. The study maps its shape and shows which parts help it stick to bacterial membranes, laying groundwork for future drug development, but it’s still early‑stage lab work.
Brown. Kelly L KL; Poon. Grace F T GF; Birkenhead. Darlene D; Pena. Olga M OM; Falsafi. Reza R; Dahl...
The human peptide LL-37 can dial down the inflammatory signals (especially TNF‑α) that activated macrophages produce, without stopping those cells from doing their normal jobs like killing bacteria or cleaning up dead cells. It also made the inflammatory macrophages better at slowing tumor cell growth in a dish.
Park. Kyungho K; Elias. Peter M PM; Oda. Yuko Y; Mackenzie. Donald D; Mauro. Theodora T; Holleran. W...
The study shows that stressing the cell’s protein‑folding system (ER stress) can boost the body’s natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 in skin cells, using a pathway that doesn’t need vitamin D. This boost requires the peptide to be secreted and cut into its active form, and it works even when vitamin D signaling is blocked. While the chemicals used in the lab are toxic, the finding hints that milder stressors (like heat or UV) might raise LL‑37 levels without relying on vitamin D.
Kanada. Kimberly N KN; Nakatsuji. Teruaki T; Gallo. Richard L RL
The study shows that low‑dose doxycycline doesn’t block the skin enzymes (KLK5) that cut the cathelicidin protein into the active peptide LL‑37 directly. Instead, doxycycline blocks other enzymes (MMPs) that help KLK5 work, so less LL‑37 is made. This explains why doxycycline helps rosacea and suggests it can be used to tone down LL‑37‑driven skin inflammation.
The study found that people with worse gum disease have higher levels of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 in their saliva, especially when a specific bad bacterium (T. denticola) is present. However, smokers (or those exposed to tobacco smoke) have lower LL‑37 levels, which may make their gums more vulnerable to disease.
McMahon. Laura L; Schwartz. Kyell K; Yilmaz. Ozlem O; Brown. Eleith E; Ryan. Lisa K LK; Diamond. Gil...
Vitamin D can turn on the mouth’s natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and other immune genes, making gum cells better at fighting harmful bacteria.