LL-37: Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide with pleiotropic activity.
Adam Fabisiak, Natalia Murawska, Jakub Fichna
Author Information
Adam Fabisiak: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
Natalia Murawska: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
Jakub Fichna: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland. Electronic address: jakub.fichna@umed.lodz.pl.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a large family of compounds serving as natural antibiotics, widely distributed across the organism, mainly in mucus layers. They are designed to prevent pathogens from colonization. Among them, defensins and cathelicidins could be found. LL-37, the sole human cathelicidin draws particular attention because of its outstanding abilities. In addition to being a broad spectrum antibiotic, LL-37 has potent chemotactic and immunomodulatory properties. In this review, we discussed the potency of LL-37 as a therapeutic agent in four systems: immunological, respiratory, gastrointestinal and in the skin. We analyzed the main molecular pathways dependent on human cathelicidin and related them to specific diseases. We conclude that LL-37 shows a great potential to be further investigated and developed as a drug with clinical use.
