title: The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 inhibits HIV-1 replication.
abstract: The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is the only cathelicidin that has been described in humans. LL-37 exerts chemotactic, immunomodulatory and angiogenic effects; activities that are mediated through binding to the formyl peptide receptor like (FPRL)-1 receptor. Agonistic ligation of FPRL-1 can also induce down-regulation of HIV-1 chemokine receptors and reduce susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in vitro. Therefore, we have evaluated the capacity of LL-37 to inhibit HIV-1 infection in vitro. Here we demonstrate that LL-37 inhibits HIV-1 replication in PBMC, including primary CD4(+) T cells. This inhibition was readily reproduced using various HIV-1 isolates without detectable changes in the target cell expression of HIV-1 chemokine receptors. Accordingly, the HIV-1 inhibitory effect was shown to be independent of FPRL-1 signalling. Given the epithelial expression of LL-37, it may contribute to the local protection against HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walter-Jallow
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broliden
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agerberth
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Söderlund
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins