This page is provided for research and educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, dosing instructions, or instructions for human use. Research findings should be interpreted within the population, model, formulation, route, outcomes, and study design reported by each cited source.
LL-37 (5 mg Vial)
LL-37 (also known as CAP-18) is a 37-amino-acid cationic antimicrobial peptide derived from the C-terminal of human cathelicidin (hCAP18)[1]. It is the only known human cathelicidin, exhibiting broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and immune-modulating properties[2][3].
Quick Reference
What is LL-37?
Research overview based on the cited scientific literature.
โข Goal: Support antimicrobial defense and wound-healing processes[4][5].
โข Storage: Lyophilized frozen; reconstituted refrigerated; avoid repeated freezeโthaw.
Storage Instructions
Proper storage preserves peptide quality[6][7].
โข Lyophilized: Store at โ20 ยฐC (โ4 ยฐF) in dry, dark conditions; stable ~24 months.
โข Reconstituted: Refrigerate at 2โ8 ยฐC (35.6โ46.4 ยฐF) for up to 4 weeks; frozen at โ20 ยฐC (โ4 ยฐF) for up to 6 months.
โข Allow vials to reach room temperature before opening to reduce condensation uptake.
How is LL-37 studied?
LL-37 exerts both direct and indirect antimicrobial effects. Its amphipathic, cationic ฮฑ-helical structure (net +6 charge) allows it to preferentially bind and disrupt negatively charged microbial membranes[2]. Beyond direct killing, LL-37 modulates host immunity: in murine sepsis models, it induced neutrophils to release microvesicles rich in antimicrobial proteins, lowering bacterial burden and improving survival[3]. LL-37 can also bind bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and block its interaction with CD14/TLR4, reducing endotoxin-triggered TNF release and neutrophil apoptosis[2]. These combined mechanisms help explain its potential in infection control and tissue-repair contexts.
What does the research report about LL-37?
Observations from preclinical and clinical literature.
โข In chronic venous leg ulcers (which often lack endogenous LL-37), topical treatment with synthetic LL-37 significantly accelerated healing rates compared to placebo[4].
โข In diabetic foot ulcer trials, LL-37 cream improved granulation tissue formation and wound closure[5].
โข Broad-spectrum antimicrobial action helps clear infections; in experimental sepsis models, LL-37 treatment reduced bacterial loads and mortality[3].
โข Generally well tolerated; occasional mild injection-site reactions (redness, itch) may occur with subcutaneous administration.
Research Limitations / Risk Notes
The supplied human LL-37 studies cited here involve topical treatment for venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers, while other cited evidence includes preclinical antimicrobial and murine sepsis research[3][4][5]. These research settings and administration routes should not be treated as interchangeable with the subcutaneous educational protocol.
Important Note
This content is provided for scientific research and educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or administration instructions. The compounds discussed may be investigational and are not presented as approved for human use.