How does LL-37 work?
Cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide (the human cathelicidin family's only member). Disrupts bacterial membranes through pore formation and modulates innate immune signaling. In plain terms, LL-37 is a germ-fighter your immune system already makes on its own. It's a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide used for chronic infections and biofilm-associated issues. Mechanistic detail like this comes largely from preclinical and early research, the human picture is limited.
What people use it for
- Users with chronic biofilm-associated infections
- Wound-healing contexts
- Stack add-on for aggressive immune protocols
References
- LL-37, the truncation product of cathelicidin, antimicrobial review — Wang G, Curr Top Med Chem, 2020
- Human antimicrobial/host defense peptide LL-37 may prevent the spread of a local infection through multiple mechanisms: an update — Svensson D et al., Inflammation Research, 2025
- Significance of the LL-37 Peptide Delivered from Human Cathelicidin in the Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Diagnosis of Sepsis — Mankowska A et al., Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis, 2025
Pepdex is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Peptides vary in legal and approval status by country, many are research compounds without full human safety data. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting anything.
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Last updated 2026-06-06.