The Human Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptide Ll-37 Stimulates Airway Epithelial Repair

Antimicrobial peptides are endogenous antibiotics that directly inactivate microorganisms and in addition have a variety of other biological functions. LL-37/hCAP-18, the only cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide found in humans, is involved in angiogenesis and regulation of the innate immune system. The aim of the present study was to characterize the role of LL-37 in the regulation of the repair processes of the airway epithelium using NCI-H292 cell line and primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC). LL-37 stimulated healing of mechanically wounded differentiated primary airway epithelium and NCI-H292 cell monol…