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Home/Compounds/LL-37
Healing

LL-37

Also known as: Cathelicidin · CAP18

Antimicrobial peptide with wound healing, immune modulation, and anti-biofilm properties.

B
Grade B
Human observational studies
Human studies30
PubMed citations30
Typical dose50 mcg – 200 mcg
Routesubcutaneous, topical, intramuscular
Regulatory (US)Compounding legal
Last verified2 months ago
TL;DR · 30-second summary
  • Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity
  • Disrupts bacterial biofilms
  • Promotes wound healing and angiogenesis
  • Immune modulation without excessive inflammation

Mechanism of action

Human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide. Disrupts bacterial membranes, modulates immune response, promotes angiogenesis and wound healing, and breaks down bacterial biofilms.

Evidence summary

30
Human studies
30
PubMed citations
20
Clinical trials
B
Evidence grade

Endogenous human peptide with extensive research. Clinical trials for wound healing and infections. Topical formulations in development.

Dosing protocols

Educational information only. Consult a licensed provider before using any peptide.
Dose range
50 mcg – 200 mcg

Topical or local injection: 50-200mcg. Systemic use experimental. Often used for chronic infections.

Administration routes
subcutaneoustopicalintramuscular

Side effects & safety

Reported side effects
Injection site reactionsPossible immune stimulation
Contraindications
  • Autoimmune conditions (theoretical)
  • Pregnancy

Interactions

No documented drug interactions on file.

Regulatory status

United States
Not FDA approved

Not FDA approved. Research peptide.

Compounding
Permitted

Available through compounding pharmacies with valid prescription.

Regulatory data last verified 4/17/2026

Clinical trials

NCT05054361Crosstalk Between Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells and the Gut Microbiota and Mucosa in the Development of Type 1 Diabetes in ChildrenRecruiting · Type1diabetes · n=180NCT07280754Evaluation of 25(OH)D3 and LL-37 Levels in Peri-implant Sulcus Fluid in Peri-implant DiseasesNot Yet Recruiting · Peri Implantitis · n=72NCT06867250Evaluation of Peri-Implant Sulcus Fluid Vitamin D and Cathelicidin (LL-37) Levels in Peri-Implant Health and DiseasesCompleted · Peri-Implantitis and Peri-implant Mucositis · n=33NCT06219330"Salivary Levels of Cathelicidin LL-37 in Patients With Oral Potentially Malignant Lesions, A Case Control Study"Completed · Oral Potentially Malignant Lesions · n=45NCT04404335The Role of Anti-inflammatory Cytokines and Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Biomarkers in the Treatment of Periodontal Disease.Completed · Periodontal Diseases · n=60NCT02225366Induction of Antitumor Response in Melanoma Patients Using the Antimicrobial Peptide LL37Completed · Phase 1 · Melanoma · n=4NCT02806414A Single Site Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effects of Topical Ivermectin on Serine Protease Activity and Production of LL-37 Cathelicidin Peptide, Biochemical Markers of Rosacea-specific Inflammation and on the Skin Microbiome in Rosacea.Completed · Phase 1 · Rosacea · n=25NCT04946617The Effect of Chlorhexidine and Essential Oil Mouthwashes on Human Beta-Defensin 2 (hbD2) and Kathelicidin (LL-37) Saliva LevelsUnknown · Mouth and Tooth Diseases · n=120NCT04861493Cathelicidin LL-37 Levels in the Gingival Crevicular Fluid and the Saliva of Smokers and Non-smokers With Stage III,IV Periodontitis :An Observational StudyCompleted · Smoking Reduction · n=60NCT03270709Effect of High-Dose Vitamin D3 on Alveolar Macrophage Function, LL-37, and Oxidative Stress in Smokers and Non-Smokers With and Without HIVTerminated · Phase 1 · HIV/AIDS · n=7NCT04292548Salivary TAS, TOS, LL-37 and Dental Status in Passive Smoking ChildrenCompleted · Passive Smoking · n=180NCT04098562The Efficacy of LL-37 Cream on Aerobic Bacteria Colonization Pattern, Inflammation Response: Interleukin 1α (IL-1α) and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), and Healing Rate of Diabetic Foot UlcersUnknown · Phase 2 · Diabetic Foot Ulcer · n=40

Showing 12 of 20 indexed studies. View all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Citations

PMID 36707289Ruiz-Tagle C, Romero F et al. · Vitamin D and cathelicidin levels and susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection acquisition in household contacts.Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica (English ed.) (2026)HumanPMID 40612001Cerps S, Ramu S et al. · Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 increases rhinovirus-induced interferon β expression in human airway epithelial cells through a Ca2+-dependent mechanism.Biochemistry and biophysics reports (2025)HumanPMID 41270816Neshani A, Zare H et al. · Decoding LL-37: Structure and antimicrobial mechanisms against microbial threats.Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases (2025)HumanPMID 38972467Esposito TVF, Rodríguez-Rodríguez C et al. · Biodistribution of the cationic host defense peptide LL-37 using SPECT/CT.European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V (2024)HumanPMID 38642493Aidoukovitch A, Bankell E et al. · Vitamin D triggers hCAP18/LL-37 production: Implications for LL-37-induced human osteoblast cytotoxicity.Biochemical and biophysical research communications (2024)HumanPMID 37090695Zhang Q, Ul Ain Q et al. · Role of antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin in thrombosis and thromboinflammation.Frontiers in immunology (2023)HumanPMID 36614313Amagai R, Takahashi T et al. · The Antimicrobial Peptide Cathelicidin Exerts Immunomodulatory Effects via Scavenger Receptors.International journal of molecular sciences (2023)HumanPMID 35291606Nikpoor M, Lohrasbi-Nejad A et al. · Heterologous Expression and Functional Characterization of CAP18 from Oryctolagus cuniculus.Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology (2022)HumanPMID 36335830Porto WF, Alencar SA · In silico assessment of missense point mutations on human cathelicidin LL-37.Journal of molecular graphics & modelling (2022)HumanPMID 34651203Mohanty S, Kamolvit W et al. · HIF-1 mediated activation of antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in type 2 diabetic patients.Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) (2022)HumanPMID 35954305Radic M, Muller S · LL-37, a Multi-Faceted Amphipathic Peptide Involved in NETosis.Cells (2022)HumanPMID 36413063Jiang X, Yang C et al. · Nanomolar LL-37 induces permeability of a biomimetic mitochondrial membrane.Nanoscale (2022)HumanPMID 34637839Silva-Carvalho AÉ, Cardoso MH et al. · Dissecting the relationship between antimicrobial peptides and mesenchymal stem cells.Pharmacology & therapeutics (2022)HumanPMID 36497142Bhusal A, Nam Y et al. · Cathelicidin-Related Antimicrobial Peptide Negatively Regulates Bacterial Endotoxin-Induced Glial Activation.Cells (2022)HumanPMID 32509872Yang B, Good D et al. · Significance of LL-37 on Immunomodulation and Disease Outcome.BioMed research international (2021)HumanPMID 33347965Oliveira PN, Courrol DS et al. · Inactivation of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 by pathogenic Leptospira.Microbial pathogenesis (2021)HumanPMID 34680791Simonetti O, Cirioni O et al. · Efficacy of Cathelicidin LL-37 in an MRSA Wound Infection Mouse Model.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)HumanPMID 33627652Minns D, Smith KJ et al. · The neutrophil antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin promotes Th17 differentiation.Nature communications (2021)HumanPMID 30811465Burkes RM, Astemborski J et al. · Plasma cathelicidin and longitudinal lung function in current and former smokers.PloS one (2019)HumanPMID 25729764Yoo JH, Ho S et al. · Anti-fibrogenic effects of the anti-microbial peptide cathelicidin in murine colitis-associated fibrosis.Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology (2019)Human

Showing 20 of 30 papers. View all on PubMed →