Study summary · research use only
Roles and Mechanisms of Human Cathelicidin LL-37 in Cancer
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review (species not specified) discusses reported roles and mechanisms of the human cathelicidin peptide LL-37, the C-terminal peptide of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP, hCAP18), in cancer. The authors describe LL-37 as associated with tumorigenic effects in cancers of the ovary, lung, breast, prostate, and pancreas, as well as in malignant melanoma and skin squamous cell carcinoma, while in colon cancer, gastric cancer, hematologic malignancy, and oral squamous cell carcinoma the review reports an anti-cancer association. The review describes LL-37-induced activation of membrane receptors and signaling pathways as altering cellular functions, with different membrane receptors on various cancer cells linked to tissue-specific effects, and notes vitamin D-dependent induction of cathelicidin in human macrophages has been linked to activation of tumor-associated macrophage anti-cancer activity and enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Abstract
LL-37, the C-terminal peptide of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP, hCAP18), reportedly increases resistance to microbial invasion and exerts important physiological functions in chemotaxis, promotion of wound closure, and angiogenesis. Accumulating evidence indicates that LL-37 also plays a significant role in human cancer. LL-37 induces tumorigenic effects in cancers of the ovary, lung, breast, prostate, pancreas, as well as in malignant melanoma and skin squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast, LL-37 displays an anti-cancer effect in colon cancer, gastric cancer, hematologic malignancy and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Mechanistically, LL-37-induced activation of membrane receptors and subsequent signaling pathways lead to alteration of cellular functions. Different membrane receptors on various cancer cells appear to be responsible for the tissue-specific effects of LL-37. Meanwhile, the findings that vitamin D-dependent induction of cathelicidin in human macrophages activates the anti-cancer activity of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and enhances antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) support critical roles of vitamin D-dependent induction of cathelicidin in cancer progression. This review describes novel advances involving the roles and mechanisms of human cathelicidin LL-37 in cancer.
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