An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Shi. Rong R; Qiao. Jianxiong J; Sun. Quanwu Q; Hou. Biao B; Li. Bo B; Zheng. Ji J; Zhang. Zhenzhen Z...
Scientists made tiny carriers that hold the LL‑37 peptide and release it when there’s a lot of oxidative stress in a wound. These carriers also mop up excess reactive oxygen species, creating a friendlier environment for new blood‑vessel growth, and they protect the peptide from breaking down. In diabetic mouse wounds, this combo sped up healing and produced better‑quality tissue, showing that LL‑37 can boost angiogenesis and wound repair when delivered in the right way.
Researchers found that when stem cells from the amniotic membrane are grown in low‑oxygen conditions, they release more of the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. This LL‑37‑rich fluid can kill Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in lab tests and, when applied as a gel to infected diabetic wounds in mice, it cuts bacterial numbers and speeds up healing.
Aidoukovitch. Alexandra A; Bankell. Elisabeth E; Svensson. Daniel D; Nilsson. Bengt-Olof BO
Vitamin D can dramatically increase the body’s production of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, and at the levels reached this peptide can harm bone‑forming cells. This means that while vitamin D boosts immune defenses, too much may have unwanted effects on bone health.
Zhang. Hanlin H; Dong. Meng M; Xu. Huihui H; Li. Hongyue H; Zheng. Aihua A; Sun. Gang G; Jin. Wanzhu...
Scientists made a friendly bacteria that makes the human peptide LL‑37 and gave it as a pill to animals. It helped piglets and chickens survive deadly viral infections, restored their weight gain, and didn’t cause obvious toxicity in rats. The work shows oral LL‑37 can work as an antiviral in animals, but it’s still far from proven in people.
Caselli. Lucrezia L; Parra-Ortiz. Elisa E; Micciulla. Samantha S; Skoda. Maximilian W A MWA; Hä...
Coating UV‑activated titanium‑dioxide nanoparticles with the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 keeps their ability to make reactive oxygen species, but makes them stick better to bacterial membranes and kill bacteria more efficiently while leaving human‑like cells mostly unharmed. The peptide stays intact enough during a short UV burst to guide the particles to the right targets.
Guerra. Maria Eduarda Souza MES; Vieira. Brenda B; Calazans. Ana Paula Carvalho Thiers APCT; Destro....
Cathelicidin peptides such as LL‑37 can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi and also tune the immune system, making them attractive as future medicines. However, they can also harm healthy cells and break down quickly inside the body. Researchers are trying to fix these problems by attaching the peptides to nanomaterials or creating synthetic versions like ceragenins, which look more stable and less toxic and are now entering early clinical tests.
Zhou. Rong R; Yang. Zhibo Z; Wang. Junwen J; Wang. Chang C; Luo. Meijunzi M; Pan. Yi Y; Huang. Pan P...
A study in mice showed that chelerythrine, a natural compound from the bark of Phellodendri Chinensis, can calm the skin inflammation and excess blood‑vessel growth that cause rosacea. It works by blocking several inflammation‑related pathways and by nudging immune cells toward a less aggressive state.
Researchers found a tiny 14‑amino‑acid peptide from a mudskipper fish that can kill tough bacteria like MRSA on the skin, works better than the human peptide LL‑37 and the antibiotic vancomycin in mice, and also stops biofilm formation without causing resistance.
The study shows that the LL-37 peptide is relatively safe when sprayed into mouse lungs, while its shorter version GF-17 causes weight loss, drops in white blood cells, and lung inflammation, making it toxic at higher doses.
Zhong. Yun Y; Zhao. Yufei Y; Meng. Xin X; Wang. Fan F; Zhou. Lei L
A traditional Chinese herbal mix called Liangxue Siwu Decoction (LXSWD) was tested in mice that develop rosacea-like skin inflammation when given the peptide LL-37. The decoction, which contains natural compounds like quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin, reduced skin redness, swelling, and inflammatory markers, likely by blocking TNF and IL-17 pathways.
Scientists modified a tiny piece of the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (called KR‑12) by adding a fatty tail, making it form tiny particles that can kill Gram‑negative bacteria and neutralize harmful bacterial toxins. In mouse tests, one version (Myr‑KR‑12N) saved animals from deadly E. coli sepsis better than a standard antibiotic and caused no noticeable damage to blood cells, liver, or kidneys. The work shows a promising new way to fight resistant infections, but it’s still early‑stage and not ready for personal use.
Urmi. Umme Laila UL; Vijay. Ajay Kumar AK; Willcox. Mark D P MDP; Attard. Samuel S; Enninful. George...
The study shows that the natural peptide LL‑37 can block a non‑enveloped virus (murine norovirus) in lab tests, but it doesn’t work against flu viruses. Other synthetic peptides and small‑molecule mimics showed different strengths: some stopped flu, others stopped adenovirus, and most didn’t affect the norovirus. The way these compounds work seems tied to their charge, size, and shape, not just being a peptide.
Ashoor. Tarek Mohamed TM; Abd Elazim. Abd Elmoniem Hassan AEH; Mustafa. Zakaria Abd Elaziz ZAE; Anwa...
Giving a big single dose of vitamin D (50,000 IU) to very sick patients with sepsis on a ventilator raised their natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, lowered an infection marker (procalcitonin), improved organ‑failure scores, cut the risk of early pneumonia and shortened hospital stay, without causing vitamin‑D toxicity.
LL-37, a natural peptide our bodies make, can kill a wide range of fungi by breaking their cell walls, poking holes in their membranes, causing oxidative stress, and messing up their internal processes. Researchers think it could become a new kind of antifungal drug, but more studies are needed before anyone can use it safely.
Stream. Alexandra A; Corriden. Ross R; Döhrmann. Simon S; Gallo. Richard L RL; Nizet. Victor V;...
Retinoic acid (a vitamin A form) can make your white blood cells (neutrophils) fire up more defenses like reactive oxygen, NETs, and the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, which helps kill tough bugs. It doesn’t stop MRSA from growing on its own, but it directly blocks group A Strep and, when applied to skin, shrinks lesions and bacterial load in mice. So, using retinoic acid topically might boost your body’s natural infection fight, especially against certain strep infections.
Inomata. Megumi M; Abe. Masayo M; Kawase. Yasuko Y; Hayashi. Toru T; Amano. Shigeru S; Sakagami. Hir...
The study shows that human mouth cells have a receptor called Dectin‑1 that, when it detects a fungal component (beta‑glucan), turns on a signaling pathway (SYK) and makes the cells produce more of the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and other anti‑inflammatory regulators. This suggests that stimulating this pathway could help keep the mouth healthier, but the work was done in cell lines, not people.
In rats with bladder pain caused by the peptide LL‑37, giving quercetin lowered inflammation and helped the bladder heal, partly by boosting a gene called Lpl.
Bogdanov. Ivan V IV; Streltsova. Maria A MA; Kovalenko. Elena I EI; Sapozhnikov. Alexander M AM; Pan...
LL-37, the only human cathelicidin peptide, can still influence immune cells at the low levels naturally found in the body, but it needs to first pass through or interact with gut lining cells. When it does, it triggers a signaling cascade (MAPK/ERK) that makes immune cells release cytokines. However, the peptide is poorly absorbed when taken orally, so its direct immune‑boosting effect from a pill is limited.
Researchers tested a liquid made from human fat tissue (called cell‑free adipose tissue extract, ATE) on a mouse model of rosacea that was triggered by the peptide LL‑37. The extract lowered the activity of a skin‑pain channel called TRPV1, reduced inflammation markers, and improved visible rosacea signs like redness and blood‑vessel dilation. The treatment was well‑tolerated in the animals.
In mice, giving the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 repeatedly for a long time caused permanent rosacea‑like skin damage, while short‑term use only caused temporary inflammation that healed. This shows that prolonged exposure to LL‑37 can lead to lasting skin scarring and fibrosis.