An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Chiang. Nan N; Schwab. Jan M JM; Fredman. Gabrielle G; Kasuga. Kie K; Gelman. Simon S; Serhan. Charl...
The study shows that the local anesthetic lidocaine slows down the body’s natural healing process after an injury by blocking the death of immune cells and their cleanup, while also boosting some inflammatory proteins like LL‑37. In contrast, the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane speeds up healing. For people who use or supplement LL‑37, lidocaine may actually work against quick recovery.
The study shows that the natural human peptide LL‑37 (and similar short antimicrobial peptides) can bind to bacterial endotoxin (LPS) and stop it from triggering inflammatory signals in immune cells. By breaking up LPS clumps, these peptides keep the toxin from attaching to its usual receptors, which reduces the release of harmful cytokines.
Yousefi Saqqezi. Saman S; Azamian Jazi. Akbar A; Hemmati. Roohullah R; Jivad. Nahid N
An 8‑week program mixing cardio (treadmill or bike) and weight training helped women with relapsing‑remitting MS keep their LL‑37 levels steady, while those who didn’t exercise saw LL‑37 rise. The workout also softened changes in other immune‑related molecules, suggesting exercise can tweak the body’s antimicrobial and inflammation signals.
Cox. David L DL; Sun. Yongcheng Y; Liu. Hsi H; Lehrer. Robert I RI; Shafer. William M WM
The human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (and a rabbit version) can quickly kill the bacteria that cause syphilis, but its power drops in salty environments. A shorter piece of the peptide, called WS22‑N‑amide, still works and stopped infection in rabbits.
Schmidtchen. Artur A; Frick. Inga-Maria IM; Andersson. Emma E; Tapper. Hans H; Björck. Lars L
The study shows that common infection‑causing bacteria can cut up the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, making it useless. Certain drugs that block bacterial enzymes, or specific sugar‑like molecules, can stop this breakdown. This means that simply taking LL‑37 may not help if you have an infection unless you also protect it from bacterial proteases.
Werthén. M M; Davoudi. M M; Sonesson. A A; Nitsche. D P DP; Mörgelin. M M; Blom. K K; Schm...
The study shows that the antiseptic polymer PHMB can kill bacteria in human wound fluid and stop the damage caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which normally breaks down important skin proteins and inactivates the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. In simple terms, PHMB protects wounds from bacterial enzymes that would otherwise destroy tissue and neutralize the body's own defenses.
Konturek. P C PC; Koziel. J J; Dieterich. W W; Haziri. D D; Wirtz. S S; Glowczyk. I I; Konturek. K K...
A study showed that transplanting healthy stool into patients with severe C. difficile infection cured 94% of them, cut down inflammation markers, and raised the blood level of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 three months later, while boosting good gut bacteria. This suggests that fixing gut microbiome health can boost innate immunity, though the exact stool‑transfer method isn’t a DIY option.
Sandgren. Staffan S; Wittrup. Anders A; Cheng. Fang F; Jönsson. Mats M; Eklund. Erik E; Busch....
The human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can grab free DNA plasmids, protect them from being broken down, and ferry them into the nucleus of mammalian cells using special membrane areas called lipid rafts and surface sugars, all without hurting the host cells at normal levels.
Researchers figured out the best way to attach a PEG molecule to a combined LL‑37 and interferon‑α2a protein, which makes the protein stay in the body longer and reduces immune reactions while keeping most of its original activity.
The paper explains that a skin enzyme called kallikrein‑5 gets too active in rosacea, which then makes a protein called LL‑37 rise and cause redness, swelling, and extra blood vessels on the face. Treatments that calm down kallikrein‑5 or lower LL‑37 can improve these skin problems.
Nagaoka. I I; Hirota. S S; Yomogida. S S; Ohwada. A A; Hirata. M M
The study shows that the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 keeps its bacteria‑killing power even in salty conditions like those in our bodies, and it works even better when paired with other neutrophil peptides called defensins. Alone, defensins lose their effect in salt, but together with LL-37 they boost killing of E. coli and Staph aureus by making bacterial membranes more leaky.
Wang. Fang F; Sun. Bei B; Li. Hong H; Yin. Li-rong LR
Putting the genes for the natural antimicrobial peptides LL‑37 and HD5 into vaginal cells made those cells produce more of the peptides and a signaling molecule called IL‑8, and this boosted their ability to stop Candida yeast from growing. The biggest effect was seen when both peptides were used together, and the protective effect lasted longer than with either peptide alone.
Researchers found that a short piece of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, specifically the C‑terminal 22‑amino‑acid segment (called P6), can block RSV virus replication in lab‑grown cells without causing the inflammation that the full‑length peptide does. This suggests a more focused peptide might be useful as an antiviral, though it’s still early‑stage research.
Pütsep. Katrin K; Carlsson. Göran G; Boman. Hans G HG; Andersson. Mats M
People with a rare condition called morbus Kostmann (a severe form of neutropenia) have very low levels of the natural antibacterial peptide LL‑37 and related defensins, especially in their saliva. This deficiency lines up with the severe gum disease they experience, even though they receive standard treatments to boost neutrophils. One patient who got a bone‑marrow transplant showed near‑normal LL‑37 levels and healthy gums, suggesting the peptide matters for oral health.
Oren. Z Z; Lerman. J C JC; Gudmundsson. G H GH; Agerberth. B B; Shai. Y Y
LL-37 is a human antimicrobial peptide that can kill both bacteria and our own cells because it sticks to and disrupts cell membranes. It stays stable in the body and can form small groups (oligomers), especially in membranes that look like our own cells. Cutting off its N‑terminal end (making FF‑33) keeps the antibacterial power but reduces damage to red blood cells and makes it less prone to being broken down by enzymes.
Niyonsaba. François F; Hirata. Michimasa M; Ogawa. Hideoki H; Nagaoka. Isao I
The paper explains that two natural antimicrobial proteins made by our skin and lining cells—human beta-defensins and the peptide LL‑37—do more than kill germs. They can attract mast cells, trigger them to release their stored chemicals, and cause them to make a signaling molecule called prostaglandin D2, all through a common cell‑signaling pathway.
LL-37 is a natural protein that not only kills microbes but also helps control inflammation and can trigger new blood vessel growth, which is important for healing wounds and repairing tissue.
Bals. R R; Weiner. D J DJ; Meegalla. R L RL; Wilson. J M JM
The study shows that boosting the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) models can bring back the ability to kill harmful bacteria like Pseudomonas and Staph. By using a virus to deliver the LL‑37 gene, the researchers raised peptide levels three‑ to four‑fold, which was enough to restore normal bacterial killing.
Singh. P K PK; Tack. B F BF; McCray. P B PB; Welsh. M J MJ
The study shows that some natural antimicrobial proteins in airway fluid work together much better than alone, especially lysozyme, lactoferrin, and SLPI, while LL‑37 only adds to the effect without boosting it. However, salty conditions (like in cystic fibrosis) can wipe out these teamwork benefits.
Ong. Peck Y PY; Ohtake. Takaaki T; Brandt. Corinne C; Strickland. Ian I; Boguniewicz. Mark M; Ganz....
The study shows that people with eczema (atopic dermatitis) have much lower levels of the natural skin antimicrobial peptides LL‑37 and HBD‑2 compared to people with psoriasis, which helps explain why eczema patients get more Staph skin infections. When LL‑37 and HBD‑2 are combined they kill the bacteria even better.