Cathelicidins are
antimicrobial peptides produced by humans and animals in response to various pathogenic microbes. This review intends to provide a brief overview of the expression, structure, properties and function of human
cathelicidin LL-37 which may be a therapeutic agent against a variety of bacterial and
viral diseases,
cancers, and hard-to-heal
wounds.
Cathelicidins act as a primary defense against bacteria and other pathogens in the case of
inflammation. They are able to kill bacteria and fungi, inhibit and destroy bacterial biofilms, and possess
antiviral and
antiparasitics properties. They can also play a role in angiogenesis, wound healing, and the regulation of apoptosis. The
host defense peptide LL-37 has emerged as a novel modulator of
tumor growth and
metastasis in
carcinogenesis of various types of
cancers. LL-37 is an
antimicrobial peptide able of inducing various effects. It acts as an anti- and pro- inflammatory factor.
Cathelicidins are able to directly and selectively destroy membranes of various microbes and
cancer cells, but they do not attack normal cells. The role of
cathelicidins in
cancer is double-sided. They play an important role in killing
cancer cells and may provide a new possibility for the development of
cancer therapeutics. However, they also can participate in
carcinogenesis. Due to its activity spectrum LL-37 could be applied in
pharmacotherapy.
Cathelicidin peptides could serve as a template for the development of modern anti-microbial and anti-viral drugs. LL-37 is an excellent candidate to develop into
therapeutics for infected
wounds.