An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Pence. Morgan A MA; Haste. Nina M NM; Meharena. Hiruy S HS; Olson. Joshua J; Gallo. Richard L RL; Ni...
The study found that a bacterial protein called BlaI helps Staph aureus resist the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, and that blocking BlaI with a low dose of a penicillin‑related compound makes the bacteria more vulnerable to LL‑37. This shows a possible way to boost the peptide’s killing power, but the work is still in bacteria and animal models, not in people.
Cassin. Margaret E ME; Ford. Andrew J AJ; Orbach. Sophia M SM; Saverot. Scott E SE; Rajagopalan. Pad...
Scientists created a thin, detachable film made of collagen and hyaluronic acid that can hold the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. When LL‑37 is attached to the film, it almost completely stops E. coli bacteria from sticking and kills bacteria in the surrounding liquid, while not harming rat liver cells at concentrations up to 16 µM. Even the film without LL‑37 already cuts bacterial adhesion by about 40%.
Thijs. Willemien W; Janssen. Kirsten K; van Schadewijk. Annemarie M AM; Papapoulos. Socrates E SE; l...
The study found that people with allergic asthma have lower levels of some antimicrobial peptides (HNP1-3 and LCN2) in their nose, but their LL‑37 levels are similar to healthy folks. A short 7‑day high‑dose vitamin D3 boost slightly raised HNP1-3 overall, but didn’t change LL‑37, LCN2, or SLPI, especially when looking at asthmatics and controls separately.
Kuroda. Kengo K; Fukuda. Tomokazu T; Krstic-Demonacos. Marija M; Demonacos. Constantinos C; Okumura....
The study shows that the natural antimicrobial peptide LL-37 can boost a small RNA called miR-663a in colon cancer cells, which then shuts down a cancer‑promoting receptor (CXCR4) and stops the cells from dividing. This effect was seen both in lab dishes and in mice, suggesting LL-37 might have anti‑cancer activity, but the work is still early‑stage and done in cell models.
Gontsarik. Mark M; Buhmann. Matthias T MT; Yaghmur. Anan A; Ren. Qun Q; Maniura-Weber. Katharina K;...
Scientists mixed the natural antimicrobial peptide LL-37 with tiny, self‑assembling lipid particles called cubosomes. They found that LL-37 fits into these particles and changes their shape depending on how much peptide is added, while still killing E. coli bacteria. The work shows how the peptide’s structure and the carrier’s structure are linked, which could help design better delivery systems in the future.
In people with stable heart disease, a simple blood test that looks at the ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes (MLR) goes up when they feel more depressed and when stress‑related hormones and inflammation markers—including the peptide LL‑37—are higher. This suggests MLR could be a cheap way to see how stress and inflammation are interacting in the body.
Caterino. Jeffrey M JM; Hains. David S DS; Camargo. Carlos A CA; Quraishi. Sadeq A SA; Saxena. Vijay...
In a small study of emergency‑room patients with suspected urinary infections, three natural antimicrobial proteins in urine (HNP1‑3, HD5, and hBD‑2) were higher when the urine culture was positive, but the peptide LL‑37 did not show a clear rise. Most people tested also had low vitamin D, which can affect LL‑37 levels.
Blodkamp. Stefanie S; Kadlec. Kristina K; Gutsmann. Thomas T; Naim. Hassan Y HY; von Köckritz-B...
The study shows that the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can kill livestock‑associated MRSA bacteria in a lab dish, but it’s less powerful than similar peptides from cows. Importantly, the usual antibiotic‑resistance tricks that MRSA uses don’t stop LL‑37 or the other peptides from working. However, the work is all in‑vitro, so it doesn’t tell us how to safely use LL‑37 in people or what dose might help.
Abdelbaqi. Suha S; Deslouches. Berthony B; Steckbeck. Jonathan J; Montelaro. Ronald R; Reed. Douglas...
The study shows that engineered antimicrobial peptides (WLBU2 and WR12) kill dangerous bacteria better than the natural human peptide LL‑37, especially against plague‑related bugs, and WLBU2 works inside immune cells at low micromolar levels. However, these peptides are still experimental, not available as supplements, and the work focuses on rare, high‑risk pathogens, so there’s no immediate protocol you can apply today.
Researchers tested four cathelicidin peptides (including a well‑known one called LL‑37) against the fungus Candida albicans, which can cause stubborn infections. In lab tests the peptides killed the fungus fast, showed little damage to red blood cells, and kept working even in salty conditions. In mice with oral candidiasis, a dose of 50 mg/kg reduced fungal numbers, and one peptide (cathelicidin‑BF) also stopped the fungus from forming and breaking down biofilms.
Stretching lung cells, like what happens during mechanical ventilation, cuts down the natural antibiotic peptide LL‑37 and ramps up inflammation. Adding vitamin D3 (or a chemical called 4‑phenyl butyric acid) can stop that drop, keeping LL‑37 levels up. The study shows lung stress also boosts inflammatory signals and oxidative stress.
Marr. A K AK; Cen. S S; Hancock. R E W RE; McMaster. W R WR
The study shows that the natural peptide LL‑37 and three lab‑made peptides can kill the parasites that cause leishmaniasis in lab tests, but a parasite protein called GP63 can block some of them. One synthetic version, RI‑1018, isn’t stopped by GP63, making it especially interesting for future drug work.
Blodkamp. Stefanie S; Kadlec. Kristina K; Gutsmann. Thomas T; Quiblier. Chantal C; Naim. Hassan Y HY...
The study shows that a bacterial pump called SecDF can make Staph aureus less sensitive to some cathelicidin peptides, but it doesn’t seem to affect the human peptide LL‑37. This means LL‑37 may still work well against this bug, while other similar peptides could be weakened by the pump.
Hwang. John H JH; Lyes. Matthew M; Sladewski. Katherine K; Enany. Shymaa S; McEachern. Elisa E; Math...
Vaping e‑cigarettes damages airway cells, weakens immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils, and makes Staphylococcus aureus bacteria more aggressive and harder for the natural peptide LL‑37 to kill. This suggests that regular e‑cig use can lower your innate defenses and boost bacterial threats in the lungs.
Konstantinidis. Theocharis T; Kambas. Konstantinos K; Mitsios. Alexandros A; Panopoulou. Maria M; Ts...
The study found that the antibiotic clarithromycin can trigger white blood cells to release web‑like traps (NETs) that are loaded with the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. These LL‑37‑decorated traps can kill the nasty bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii and stop it from forming protective biofilms, but this effect only works when the NET structure stays intact.
Kubicek-Sutherland. Jessica Z JZ; Lofton. Hava H; Vestergaard. Martin M; Hjort. Karin K; Ingmer. Han...
The study shows that when the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is repeatedly exposed to the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (and similar peptides), it can become resistant not only to those peptides but also to many antibiotics, while still being able to cause disease. This resistance develops without making the bacteria weaker, meaning the resistant strains can stick around.
Bucki. Robert R; Niemirowicz. Katarzyna K; Wnorowska. Urszula U; Byfield. Fitzroy J FJ; Piktel. Ewel...
The study compared a synthetic antimicrobial called CSA-13 to the natural human peptide LL‑37 and found CSA-13 killed Pseudomonas bacteria more effectively in lung cell cultures and in mice, even after the cells were treated with butyric acid (which raises LL‑37 levels). CSA‑13 also gathered in mouse liver and kidneys and lowered bacterial growth in a belly‑cavity infection model.
LL-37 is a natural protein that helps kill germs and also influences the immune system. Recent research shows it can both help and hinder cancer growth, depending on how it interacts with cell receptors and membranes. While scientists are exploring LL-37 and its mimics as possible cancer drugs, the current evidence is mixed and mostly at the laboratory stage.
Sainz. Bruno B; Alcala. Sonia S; Garcia. Elena E; Sanchez-Ripoll. Yolanda Y; Azevedo. Maria M MM; Ci...
The study found that a natural protein called LL-37, which the body makes to fight microbes, can actually help pancreatic cancer cells grow and spread when it’s released by immune cells in the tumor’s surrounding tissue.
The study looked at how natural vaginal fluid and several lab‑made antimicrobial peptides affect Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacteria linked to newborn infections. The fluid didn’t stop GBS, and the peptide LL‑37, even at high doses, also failed to inhibit GBS, although it did block E. coli. Other peptides like HNP‑1 and defensin‑5 were much better at reducing GBS growth.