Li Menggeng, Wang Jing, Shu Peng, Chen Xueqing, Yan Yizhen, Zhong Jiangming, Zhao Nan, Liang Ling, Liu Zhao
HBN Research Institute and Biological Laboratory, Shenzhen Hujia Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China.
ACS Omega. 2025 Aug 12;10(33):36994-37003. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c11664. eCollection 2025 Aug 26.
Cathelicidin LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) of the innate immune system, wards off bacterial infections. Recent research has identified plenty of biological functions of AMPs beyond their antimicrobial activity, including antioxidant, self-renewal, and procollagen properties, making them valuable for antiaging products. In this study, we assessed the antiphotoaging potential of cathelicidin LL-37 fragments and KR-12 analogs using human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Our results reveal that these peptides can modulate ultraviolet-radiation-induced photodamage, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Notably, we proved the immune modulation effects of LL-23. Additionally, these peptides promote cell migration and collagen synthesis, inhibit glycation, and suppress melanin production. We propose that the antiphotoaging effects exhibited by LL-37 fragments and KR-12 analogs are related to the alleviation of inflammation, and we attempt to elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms. These findings support their efficacy as antiaging agents in dermatological applications.
抗菌肽LL-37是天然免疫系统的一种抗菌肽，可抵御细菌感染。最近的研究发现，抗菌肽除了具有抗菌活性外，还具有许多生物学功能，包括抗氧化、自我更新和前胶原特性，这使得它们在抗老化产品中具有重要价值。在本研究中，我们使用人永生化角质形成细胞（HaCaT）和人真皮成纤维细胞（HDF）评估了抗菌肽LL-37片段和KR-12类似物的抗光老化潜力。我们的结果表明，这些肽可以调节紫外线辐射诱导的光损伤，具有抗炎和抗氧化特性。值得注意的是，我们证实了LL-23的免疫调节作用。此外，这些肽还能促进细胞迁移和胶原蛋白合成，抑制糖基化，并抑制黑色素生成。我们认为，LL-37片段和KR-12类似物所表现出的抗光老化作用与炎症减轻有关，并试图阐明其可能的潜在机制。这些发现支持了它们作为抗老化剂在皮肤科应用中的有效性。
