An angiogenic role for the human peptide antibiotic LL-37/hCAP-18
J. Clin. Invest. Rembert Koczulla, et al. 111:1665 doi:10.1172/JCI17545 [Go to this article.]

Figure 6
LL-37 binds to endothelial FPRL1 and induces cellular signaling. (a and b) LL-37 induces Ca²⁺ flux in HUVECs. Fura-2–loaded HUVECs were stimulated with LL-37, and relative levels of intracellular Ca²⁺ were monitored using a calcium-imaging system. Local application of LL-37 led to a concentration-dependent increase of intracellular calcium. Preincubation of the cells with pertussis toxin (Ptx) resulted in partial inhibition of the Ca²⁺ flux (a). Preincubation with fMLP cross-desensitized the LL-37–induced Ca²⁺ mobilization; sLL-37 had no effect (b). (c) LL-37 activates NF-κB in endothelial cells. This response can be inhibited by GF109203X and the addition of N-acetylcystein. *P < 0.05 as compared with the control group (n = 8). NAC, N-acetylcystein.