An antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family that provides innate immune defense by killing pathogens and modulating inflammation and wound healing.
Szafranski-Schneider. Eva E; Swidergall. Marc M; Cottier. Fabien F; Tielker. Denis D; Román. El...
The fungus Candida albicans releases a large sugar‑coated piece of a protein called Msb2 that can bind and neutralize the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, stopping it from killing the fungus. This protection isn’t because the peptide is broken down, but because the Msb2 fragment blocks its activity. Fungi lacking Msb2 are much more vulnerable to LL‑37.
Larcombe. Linda L; Orr. Pamela P; Turner-Brannen. Emily E; Slivinski. Caroline R CR; Nickerson. Pete...
Taking vitamin D didn’t raise the blood levels of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 and didn’t change how immune cells make LL‑37, but it did shift other immune signals in ways that differed between Caucasian and Canadian First Nations people. This means vitamin D isn’t a reliable way to boost LL‑37 for most people, and its immune effects may vary by ethnicity.
The study shows that the immune peptide LL‑37, which normally helps protect the body from infection, actually falls to lower levels in the blood during septic shock, and this drop isn’t caused by low vitamin D.
Barna. Barbara P BP; Culver. Daniel A DA; Kanchwala. Ali A; Singh. Ravinder J RJ; Huizar. Isham I; A...
The study found that people with severe sarcoidosis have lower levels of the immune‑boosting peptide LL‑37 in their lung cells, even though their active vitamin D3 levels are normal. This drop is linked to high inflammation signals (TNF‑α) that suppress a helper protein (SRC3) needed for LL‑37 production. In simpler terms, inflammation can block the body’s natural production of this antimicrobial peptide despite adequate vitamin D.
The study shows that the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 kills Bacillus subtilis bacteria in a dose‑dependent way: low levels (2 µM) just slow bacterial growth, while higher levels (4 µM) quickly break the cell membrane and kill the bacteria irreversibly.
Alvarez. J A JA; Zughaier. S M SM; Law. J J; Hao. L L; Wasse. H H; Ziegler. T R TR; Tangpricha. V V
A year‑long study gave people with early kidney disease a high dose of vitamin D (50,000 IU weekly then every other week). After 12 weeks their blood level of the inflammation signal MCP‑1 went down, but the effect faded by the end of the year. Other immune markers, including the peptide LL‑37, didn’t change.
Cotton. Sophie S; Donnelly. Sheila S; Robinson. Mark W MW; Dalton. John P JP; Thivierge. Karine K
Scientists found that some worm parasites make tiny proteins that look a lot like the human immune peptide LL‑37. These worm‑derived peptides can kill microbes and also tweak the immune system, possibly explaining why worm infections sometimes reduce inflammation. The study is basic research and doesn’t give any dosage or supplement advice for everyday use.
Gatti. John W JW; Smithgall. Marie C MC; Paranjape. Shruti M SM; Rolfes. Ronda J RJ; Paranjape. Maka...
Scientists showed that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 can be mixed into ultra‑thin fibers made from a polymer (PEO) using a process called electrospinning, and it still works to kill bacteria. The fibers slowly release the peptide, creating a small antibacterial zone in lab tests.
McLean. Denise T F DT; Lundy. Fionnuala T FT; Timson. David J DJ
Researchers tested short pieces of proteins called IQ‑motif peptides and found some of them can kill common bacteria and a fungus as well as the well‑known antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, while causing little damage to human cells. This shows they could be useful starting points for new antimicrobial agents, but they’re still early‑stage lab findings.
Pierson. Tony T; Learmonth-Pierson. Sarah S; Pinto. Daniel D; van Hoek. Monique L ML
Researchers exposed lung cells to cigarette smoke extract and measured antimicrobial peptide genes. They saw that three beta-defensin genes (hBD3, hBD5, hBD9) went up, while LL‑37 and several others stayed the same. This shows smoking changes some, but not all, of these immune‑related peptides in lung cells.
The study found that the natural peptide LL-37 can slow down the movement of heart fibroblast cells, which are key players in forming scar tissue (fibrosis) after heart inflammation. It does this by activating a specific receptor (P2X7) and downstream signaling pathways. While this suggests LL-37 might help prevent heart scarring, the work was done in mouse hearts and cell cultures, not in people.
The study shows that the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 normally spikes in the nose when Staph aureus is present, but this boost is missing in people with chronic sinus inflammation and nasal polyps, suggesting a weakened local defense. The other peptide hBD‑3 didn’t change, and nasal cells can still make LL‑37 when directly exposed to the bacteria.
Ertugrul. A S AS; Sahin. H H; Dikilitas. A A; Alpaslan. N Z NZ; Bozoğlan. A A; Tekin. Y Y
The study measured two natural antimicrobial proteins, LL‑37 and hBD‑2, in the gum fluid of people with gum disease. It found that smokers have higher levels of these proteins than non‑smokers, especially in severe gum disease, while people with mild gum inflammation have the lowest levels.
The study shows that healthy gum tissue naturally has more of an antiviral protein called MxA, and this boost comes from a natural peptide called α‑defensin, not from the peptide LL‑37. In lab tests, only α‑defensin made gum cells produce MxA and helped protect them from flu virus, while LL‑37 had no effect.
El Shamieh. Said S; Ndiaye. Ndeye Coumba NC; Stathopoulou. Maria G MG; Murray. Helena A HA; Masson....
The study found that two common genetic variants, one in the F7 gene and another in the SELE gene, each lower blood pressure and together have a bigger effect. The F7 variant also raises levels of a protein called NAMPT, which in turn is linked to higher expression of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. Higher LL‑37 levels were modestly associated with higher systolic blood pressure, explaining about 4% of its variation. These results suggest a genetic‑inflammation link to blood pressure but don’t give a clear way to change it.
Lucchese. Alberta A; Guida. Agostino A; Petruzzi. Massimo M; Capone. Giovanni G; Laino. Luigi L; Ser...
This paper reviews how natural antimicrobial proteins like LL‑37 might help fight gum disease, cavities, and other mouth problems caused by microbes, but it doesn’t give a clear recipe for using them. It points out that LL‑37 can kill bacteria and viruses and also calm inflammation, making it an interesting candidate for future mouth‑care products.
Park. Kyungho K; Elias. Peter M PM; Shin. Kyoung-Oh KO; Lee. Yong-Moon YM; Hupe. Melanie M; Borkowsk...
The study shows that a skin lipid called sphingosine‑1‑phosphate (S1P) triggers skin cells to make more of the natural antibiotic peptide LL‑37 when they’re under stress, and this extra LL‑37 helps kill Staph bacteria on the skin.
Hollands. Andrew A; Gonzalez. David D; Leire. Emma E; Donald. Cortny C; Gallo. Richard L RL; Sanders...
The study shows that a common bacteria (Group A Strep) can hijack a human enzyme called plasmin to chop up the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37, helping the bug avoid being killed. When the bacteria can’t use plasmin, they’re more vulnerable to LL‑37, and blocking plasmin in mice makes infections less severe.
Mallia. Patrick P; Footitt. Joseph J; Sotero. Rosa R; Jepson. Annette A; Contoli. Marco M; Trujillo-...
In people with COPD, catching a common cold virus often leads to a follow‑up bacterial lung infection. The virus triggers a rise in an enzyme called neutrophil elastase, which breaks down natural antimicrobial proteins (like SLPI and elafin) that normally keep bacteria in check. When these defenses are weakened, bacteria grow, worsening symptoms. The study suggests that blocking elastase or boosting innate immunity could help prevent these secondary infections.
Mariano. F S FS; Campanelli. A P AP; Nociti. F H FH; Mattos-Graner. R O RO; Gonçalves. R B RB
The study shows that people with gum disease have immune cells that make more of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 but less nitric oxide, which together might affect how the disease progresses. It doesn’t test any treatments, just compares healthy and diseased individuals.