Human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein 18 (hCAP18/LL-37) is increased in foetal membranes and myometrium after spontaneous labour and delivery.

Lim R, Barker G, Lappas M

Journal of reproductive immunology11 Nov 2014Cited by 15 (Europe PMC)

PMID25435436DOI10.1016/j.jri.2014.10.002PepBankPUB-25435436

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study10

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement
In human foetal membrane and myometrium explants, LL‑37 significantly induced expression and secretion of IL-6.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human pregnancy tissue, LL‑37 raised the inflammatory signal IL-6.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseIL-6 expression and secretion
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane and myometrium explants
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment of foetal membranes and myometrium with LL-37 significantly induced the expression and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and the chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543602
02LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement
In human foetal membrane and myometrium explants, LL‑37 significantly induced expression and secretion of TNF-α.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human pregnancy tissue, LL‑37 raised the inflammatory signal TNF-α.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseTNF-α expression and secretion
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane and myometrium explants
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment of foetal membranes and myometrium with LL-37 significantly induced the expression and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and the chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543603
03LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement
In human foetal membrane and myometrium explants, LL‑37 significantly induced expression and secretion of the chemokine IL-8.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human pregnancy tissue, LL‑37 raised the chemokine IL-8.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseIL-8 expression and secretion
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane and myometrium explants
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment of foetal membranes and myometrium with LL-37 significantly induced the expression and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and the chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543604
04LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement
In human foetal membrane and myometrium explants, LL‑37 significantly induced expression and secretion of the chemokine MCP-1.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human pregnancy tissue, LL‑37 raised the chemokine MCP-1.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseMCP-1 expression and secretion
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane and myometrium explants
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment of foetal membranes and myometrium with LL-37 significantly induced the expression and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and the chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543605
05LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement
In human foetal membrane explants, LL‑37 induced expression of MMP-9 mRNA.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human foetal membranes, LL‑37 raised the gene signal for MMP-9.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseMMP-9 mRNA expression in foetal membranes
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane explants
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
LL-37 also induced expression of MMP-9 mRNA and pro MMP-9 expression in foetal membranes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543606
06LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement
In human foetal membrane explants, LL‑37 induced expression of pro MMP-9 protein.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human foetal membranes, LL‑37 raised pro MMP-9 protein.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreasePro MMP-9 protein expression in foetal membranes
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane explants
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
LL-37 also induced expression of MMP-9 mRNA and pro MMP-9 expression in foetal membranes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543607
07LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In human foetal membrane and myometrium samples, LL‑37 significantly increased NF-κB transcriptional activity.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human pregnancy tissue, LL‑37 increased the activity of NF-κB, a switch for inflammation genes.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseNF-κB transcriptional activity
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane and myometrium tissue and cells
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
LL-37 also significantly increased NF-κB transcriptional activity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
Report a problemFND-2543543608

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

08HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In human foetal membranes and myometrium, hCAP18 (the LL‑37 precursor) protein expression was higher after labour than in tissue without labour.
In plain wordsIn human pregnancy tissue, the body's own LL‑37 precursor protein was higher after labour began.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreasehCAP18 protein expression in labour versus non-labour tissue
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Non-labouring tissue
Outcome group
Immune response · Reproductive and sexual health
Source sentences
Summary
In foetal membranes and myometrium, human labour was associated with significantly higher hCAP18 protein expression.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-2543543601

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, LL-37 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking LL-37.

09LabNot a test of LL-37 aloneEx vivo tissueMechanism
In human foetal membrane and myometrium explants, co-treatment with BAY 11-7082 decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression induced by LL‑37.
In plain wordsIn lab-tested human pregnancy tissue, the NF-κB blocker BAY 11-7082 reduced the inflammatory signals that LL‑37 caused.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
DecreaseBAY 11-7082 effect on LL-37-induced cytokine expression
Study
humann: not reported in source
Foetal membrane and myometrium explants
Comparator
LL-37 alone
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Reproductive and sexual health
Source sentences
Summary
Co-treatment with BAY 11-7082 was associated with a decrease in LL-37-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
In this study, LL-37 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking LL-37.
Report a problemFND-2543543609
10LabNot a test of LL-37 aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human myometrial cells, inhibition of MyD88 decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and release induced by LL‑37.
In plain wordsIn human uterine muscle cells, blocking MyD88 reduced the inflammatory signals that LL‑37 caused.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
DecreaseMyD88 inhibition effect on LL-37-induced cytokine expression and release
Study
humann: not reported in source
Myometrial cells
Comparator
LL-37 alone
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Reproductive and sexual health
Source sentences
Summary
Moreover, inhibition of MyD88 in myometrial cells decreased LL-37-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and release.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour on hCAP18 expression in foetal membranes and myometrium, and to determine the effect of the synthetic LL-37 peptide on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in foetal membranes and myometrium.
In this study, LL-37 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking LL-37.
Report a problemFND-2543543610

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 3Current
9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
Study results updated
Version 2
9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:57 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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