Emerging roles of the host defense peptide LL-37 in human cancer and its potential therapeutic applications.
Human cathelicidin LL-37, a host defense peptide derived from leukocytes and epithelial cells, plays a crucial role in innate and adaptive immunity. Not only does LL-37 eliminate pathogenic microbes directly but also modulates host immune responses. Emerging evidence from tumor biology studies indicates that LL-37 plays a prominent and complex role in carcinogenesis. Although overexpression of LL-37 has been implicated in the development or progression of many human malignancies, including breast, ovarian and lung cancers, LL-37 suppresses tumorigenesis in gastric cancer. These data are beginning to unveil the intricate and contradictory functions of LL-37. The reasons for the tissue-specific function of LL-37 in carcinogenesis remain to be elucidated. Here, we review the relationship between LL-37, its fragments and cancer progression as well as discuss the potential therapeutic implications of targeting this peptide.
Wu
William K K
WK
Institute of Digestive Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. wukakei@cuhk.edu.hk
Wang
Guangshun
G
Coffelt
Seth B
SB
Betancourt
Aline M
AM
Lee
Chung W
CW
Fan
Daiming
D
Wu
Kaichun
K
Yu
Jun
J
Sung
Joseph J Y
JJ
Cho
Chi H
CH
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D054804:Cathelicidins
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D054804:Cathelicidins