LL-37 · research summary

Apoptosis Modulation by LL-37: From Mitochondrial Cell Death to Prosurvival Signaling.

International journal of molecular sciences · 2026. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Review of current knowledge on the role of human cathelicidin LL-37 in the regulation of apoptosis
“This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of human cathelicidin LL-37 in the regulation of apoptosis.”

Subjects

Human cathelicidin LL-37 and its derivatives in various cell types including cancer cells, immune cells, and epithelial cells
“Data on LL-37 derivatives and their involvement in apoptosis are also discussed.”

Reported findings

LL-37 can modulate programmed cell death pathways, exerting either proapoptotic or antiapoptotic effects depending on factors such as cell type and peptide concentration.
“LL-37 can modulate programmed cell death pathways, exerting either proapoptotic or antiapoptotic effects depending on various factors, such as cell type and peptide concentration.”
The proapoptotic effect of LL-37 is primarily exerted through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, involving both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms.
“In contrast, the proapoptotic effect of LL-37 is primarily exerted through the intrinsic pathway, which will be discussed in detail below.”
Antiapoptotic effects of LL-37 are predominantly associated with membrane receptor-mediated prosurvival signaling at lower concentrations.
“Proapoptotic effects of LL-37 often involve membrane permeabilization and intracellular or mitochondrial targets, whereas antiapoptotic effects are predominantly associated with membrane receptor-mediated prosurvival signaling.”

Limitations stated by the authors

The signaling pathways and mechanisms involved in LL-37-mediated apoptosis are not yet fully understood.
“The signaling pathways and mechanisms involved in LL-37-mediated apoptosis are not yet fully understood.”

Source: PubMed 42794783 · DOI 10.3390/ijms27188351 · all study summaries

Reported findings

LL-37 can modulate programmed cell death pathways, exerting either proapoptotic or antiapoptotic effects depending on factors such as cell type and peptide concentration.

“LL-37 can modulate programmed cell death pathways, exerting either proapoptotic or antiapoptotic effects depending on various factors, such as cell type and peptide concentration.”

The proapoptotic effect of LL-37 is primarily exerted through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, involving both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms.

“In contrast, the proapoptotic effect of LL-37 is primarily exerted through the intrinsic pathway, which will be discussed in detail below.”

Antiapoptotic effects of LL-37 are predominantly associated with membrane receptor-mediated prosurvival signaling at lower concentrations.

“Proapoptotic effects of LL-37 often involve membrane permeabilization and intracellular or mitochondrial targets, whereas antiapoptotic effects are predominantly associated with membrane receptor-mediated prosurvival signaling.”