LL-37 · research summary

Ameliorative effects and mechanisms of paeonol against rosacea through network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Frontiers in immunology · 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

In vivo animal study combined with bioinformatics and network pharmacology analysis
“This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Paeonol in treating rosacea and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of its action.”

Subjects

Female specific pathogen-free BALB/c mice
“42 female, specific pathogen-free (SPF) BALB/c mice (age: 6-7 weeks old; weight: 20 ± 0.4 g; certificate no: SYXK [Anhui] 2023-005v) were obtained from Henan SCBS Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Henan, China).”

Sample size

42 mice total, divided into 6 groups with 7 mice per group
“All animals were randomized into the control group (phosphate-buffered saline), rosacea model group (LL-37), doxycycline hyclate (DH) group (LL-37 + DH 30 mg/kg), and Pae groups (LL-37 + Pae 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) (n = 7 mice/group).”

Duration

Acute inflammation model lasting approximately 48 hours
“First, rosacea is a chronic relapsing skin disease, while our LL-37-induced rosacea-like mouse model is a short-term 48 h acute inflammation model, a long term efficacy, safety, or toxicity remain unproven and require future long-term studies.”

Reported findings

Paeonol intervention reduced rosacea-like skin lesions and erythema in mice
“In vivo, Pae intervention markedly ameliorated rosacea-like skin lesions.”
Paeonol suppressed the production of S100A9 by modulating the LL-37 and NF-κB pathways
“Mechanistically, Pae suppressed the production of S100A9 through modulation of the LL-37 and NF-κB pathways.”
Paeonol inhibited cutaneous immune cell infiltration and angiogenesis
“To summarize, the findings of this study revealed that Pae can impede cutaneous immune cell infiltration and angiogenesis, thereby reducing LL-37-mediated rosacea-like inflammation.”

Limitations stated by the authors

The study used a short-term acute model rather than a chronic model, and the mechanism was supported by correlative evidence without in vitro functional validation
“First, rosacea is a chronic relapsing skin disease, while our LL-37-induced rosacea-like mouse model is a short-term 48 h acute inflammation model, a long term efficacy, safety, or toxicity remain unproven and require future long-term studies.”

Source: PubMed 42865362 · DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1949398 · all study summaries

Duration

Acute inflammation model lasting approximately 48 hours

“First, rosacea is a chronic relapsing skin disease, while our LL-37-induced rosacea-like mouse model is a short-term 48 h acute inflammation model, a long term efficacy, safety, or toxicity remain unproven and require future long-term studies.”

Reported findings

Paeonol intervention reduced rosacea-like skin lesions and erythema in mice

“In vivo, Pae intervention markedly ameliorated rosacea-like skin lesions.”

Paeonol suppressed the production of S100A9 by modulating the LL-37 and NF-κB pathways

“Mechanistically, Pae suppressed the production of S100A9 through modulation of the LL-37 and NF-κB pathways.”

Paeonol inhibited cutaneous immune cell infiltration and angiogenesis

“To summarize, the findings of this study revealed that Pae can impede cutaneous immune cell infiltration and angiogenesis, thereby reducing LL-37-mediated rosacea-like inflammation.”

Limitations stated by the authors

The study used a short-term acute model rather than a chronic model, and the mechanism was supported by correlative evidence without in vitro functional validation

“First, rosacea is a chronic relapsing skin disease, while our LL-37-induced rosacea-like mouse model is a short-term 48 h acute inflammation model, a long term efficacy, safety, or toxicity remain unproven and require future long-term studies.”