At a glance
Type
Human cathelicidin peptide (37 aa)
Molecular weight
≈4493 g/mol (approx.)
CAS number
597562-32-8 (reported)
Studied for
AntimicrobialImmune modulationWound healing
LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin — a natural antimicrobial peptide that is part of your innate immune defence. Named for its two leading leucines and 37-amino-acid length, it both kills microbes and helps coordinate immune responses.
How LL-37 works
LL-37 is an amphipathic, α-helical peptide released from the hCAP18 precursor. It binds and disrupts the anionic membranes of bacteria, some fungi and enveloped viruses, killing them directly. Beyond that, it is a broad immune modulator: it draws immune cells to sites of infection, tunes cytokine responses, neutralises bacterial LPS, and supports wound healing and new blood-vessel formation.
What the research shows
- Structure & function (Dürr et al., 2006). The canonical review of LL-37’s α-helical structure and membrane-active antimicrobial mechanism.
- Multifunctional roles (Vandamme et al., 2012). A broad review of its antimicrobial, chemotactic, immunomodulatory and wound-healing roles.
- Angiogenesis (Koczulla et al., 2003). Showed LL-37 induces new blood-vessel formation and improves wound revascularisation.
Candour: most LL-37 evidence is in-vitro and preclinical, and its effects are context-dependent — it also has pro-inflammatory roles and is implicated in conditions like psoriasis and lupus, so its biology is not uniformly beneficial. Some molecular figures (formula, CAS) are supplier-reported. Use belongs under a physician’s guidance.
Molecular specification
| Type | Human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (37 aa) |
| Sequence | LLGDFFRKSKEKIGKEFKRIVQRIKDFLRNLVPRTES |
| Molecular weight | ≈4493 g/mol (approx.) |
| CAS number | 597562-32-8 (supplier-reported) |
Quality and sourcing
Every batch of Azzurri Wellness LL-37 is compounded through a Registered 503B outsourcing facility under GMP-compliant processes, HPLC-tested for purity and potency, and third-party lab verified. Shipped cold-pack when needed to protect stability.
References
- Dürr UH, et al. LL-37, the only human member of the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial peptides. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006;1758(9):1408–1425. DOI
- Vandamme D, et al. A comprehensive summary of LL-37, the factotum human cathelicidin peptide. Cell Immunol. 2012;280(1):22–35. PubMed
- Koczulla R, et al. An angiogenic role for the human peptide antibiotic LL-37/hCAP-18. J Clin Invest. 2003;111(11):1665–1672. PubMed
Compiled by the Azzurri Wellness Research Team and checked against the cited literature. Educational only — not medical advice.
