Molecular mechanisms of LL-37-induced receptor activation: An overview.
The human cathelicidin peptide LL-37 plays a crucial role in the immune system on many levels, from the first line of defense in epithelial cells to restoring the tissue after infection. On host cells, the majority of the LL-37-induced effects are mediated via the direct or indirect activation of several structurally unrelated cell surface receptors or intracellular targets. How LL-37 is able to affect multiple receptors is currently not well understood. So far, the mechanistic details underlying receptor activation are poorly investigated and evidence for a conventional ligand/receptor interaction is scarce. Over the past few decades, a large number of studies have reported on the activation of a receptor and/or components of the downstream signal transduction pathway induced by LL-37. This review summarizes the current knowledge on molecular mechanisms underlying LL-37-induced receptor activation.
KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Division of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Eddytim.Verjans@bio.kuleuven.be.
Eddy-Tim
ET
Verjans
KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Division of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Sven
S
Zels
KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Division of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Walter
W
Luyten
KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Division of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Bart
B
Landuyt
KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Division of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Liliane
L
Schoofs
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics*; D054804:Cathelicidins
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054804:Cathelicidins
G protein-coupled receptor; LL-37; Membrane channel; Toll-like receptor; Tyrosine kinase receptor