LL-37 Stimulates the Functions of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells via Early Growth Response 1 and the MAPK Pathway

The study demonstrated that the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration, and regenerative functions of adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) through the early growth response 1 (EGR1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. LL-37 treatment increased the expression of EGR1 and the secretion of growth factors such as VEGF, thymosin beta-4, MCP-1, and SDF-1. Conditioned medium from LL-37-preconditioned ASCs promoted hair growth in vivo in mice, achieving 95-100% hair regeneration compared to 30-35% in non-activated ASCs. These findings suggested that LL-37 could be used to enhance the therapeutic potential of ASCs for tissue regeneration and hair growth.