LL-37

Significantly Boosts Immune Function

An overwhelming body of research shows that this antimicrobial peptide regulates various important mechanisms involved in immune function:

1. LL-37 boosts immune function by limiting the damage caused by bacterial products and recruiting immune cells to the site of infection. [1]
2. A cell study found that LL-37 has the ability to inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilms (densely packed communities of microbial cells). [2]
3. A cell study also found that LL-37 may help enhance the immunomodulatory function of human placenta-derived MSCs (pMSCs). [3]
4. A study found that LL-37 was deadly against Staphylococcus aureus, the most common cause of upper respiratory tract infections. [4]
5. LL-37 demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against eye pathogens (infectious microorganisms). [5]
6. Studies showed that LL-37 destroyed harmful microorganisms by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis). [6-8]
7. A study found that LL-37 can kill a broad spectrum of bacteria. [9-10]
8. LL-37 boosts immune response by attracting immune cells including T cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and mast cells to the site of infection. [11-12]
9. LL-37 also affects the maturation of dendritic cells (antigen-presenting cells). [13]
10. LL-37 stimulates the production of immune cells such as cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors. [14-15]
11. Higher blood levels of LL-37 were associated with a lower risk of death from infection in dialysis patients. [16]
12. In patients with psoriasis, LL-37 worked synergistically with human beta-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in killing Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. [17]
13. A study showed that LL-37 may be beneficial in treating patients with sepsis. [18]
14. A study showed that LL-37 enhanced the effects of lysozyme against S. aureus. [19]

Fights Inflammation

Aside from its immune-boosting properties, LL-37 also has potent anti-inflammatory activity according to high-quality studies:

1. In patients who had surgical removal of the tonsils, those with high levels of LL-37 had lesser inflammation compared to those with low LL-37. [20]
2. LL-37 suppresses the translocation of NF-kB to the nucleus, which creates an anti-inflammatory effect. [21]
3. In mice, LL-37 administration reduced the risk of inflammatory disease. [22]
4. LL-37 reduces inflammation by modulating inflammatory pathways in the body. [23-25]
5. In human gum cells, LL-37 strongly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. [26]
6. LL-37 also modulates the inflammatory and host defense response of human white blood cells. [27]
7. In mouse models, LL-37 provided protection against collagen damage which normally occurs in inflammatory arthritis. [28]
8. A study showed that LL-37 was effective in regulating inflammation induced by interleukin-32. [29]

Prevents Cancer Progression

Studies show that LL-37 can help ward off deadly cancers:

1. A cell study found that LL-37 has the potential to suppress cancer growth. [30]
2. In another cell study, LL-37 suppressed the growth of colon cancer by inducing programmed cell death. [31]
3. A study found that LL-37 has an anti-cancer effect in colon cancer, gastric cancer, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, hematologic malignancy, and oral cancer. [32]
4. In various human cancer cell lines, LL-37 exhibited anti-cancer effects similar to chemotherapeutic drugs. [33]
5. In human lung cancer cell lines, LL-37 suppressed cancer progression by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. [34]
6. Cell studies have shown that LL-37 can inhibit the migration and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. [35-40]
7. In colon cancer, gastric cancer, and skin cancer cell lines, treatment with LL-37 prevented cancer cell progression.[41-46]
8. In colon cancer cell lines, LL-37 destroyed cancer cells by stimulating signaling pathways involved in programmed cell death. [47-51]
9. In gastric cancer cell lines, LL-37 inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation through activation of signaling pathways involved in cell cycle arrest. [52-55]
10. In leukemic cell lines, recombinant LL-37 treatment killed malignant cells by activating programmed cell death. [56-57]
11. In human oral cancer cell lines, treatment with LL-37 destroyed malignant cells by damaging their DNA. [58-59]

Accelerates Wound Healing

Studies also show that this peptide can help stimulate faster regeneration of wounds:

1. In patients with venous leg ulcers, LL-37 treatment was associated with a faster healing rate (almost six-fold higher) compared to placebo. [60]
2. In mice, LL-37 treatment promoted wound healing through the production of new blood vessels. [61]
3. A cell study found that LL-37 induces wound healing by stimulating the proliferation and migration of cells necessary for regeneration. [62]
4. In mice, LL-37 treatment improved re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation – both of these processes are necessary for wound healing. [63-64]
5. Cell studies found that LL-37 improves wound healing through its antimicrobial activity. [65-66]
6. In patients with venous leg ulcers, low-dose LL-37 treatment markedly decreased the mean ulcer area. [67]

Lowers the Risk of Heart Disease

LL-37 has also been found to possess cardioprotective effects:

1. A study showed that LL-37 can protect against atherosclerosis (plaque build-up within the heart arteries). [68]
2. A study also found that LL-37 inhibited cell death in the heart, suggesting that increasing its level might have therapeutic benefits against heart failure. [69]
3. In mice, heart failure was associated with a decrease in LL-37 levels and this deficiency worsened the condition. [70]

Prevents Lung Injury

Studies found that LL-37 is essential for healthy lungs:

1. In mice, LL-37 attenuated the progression of lung injury by controlling inflammation and preventing infection. [71]
2. A study reported that LL-37 is an effective inflammatory regulator in various lung diseases. [72]

Promotes Bone Repair

Evidence also suggests that LL-37 is vital for bone repair:

1. A mice study found that LL-37-treated white blood cells promoted bone formation. [73]
2. Cell studies also found that LL-37 can help prevent bone disorders by inhibiting bone breakdown. [74-75]
3. In rats with bone defects, LL-37 treatment markedly induced newly formed bones. [76]
4. A cell study reported that LL-37 induced bone formation by recruiting stem cells into the site of injury. [77]