PMID-27663530 – LL-37 Correlates with Venous Leg Ulcer Healing
Krejner A, Litwiniuk M, Grzela T. LL-37 but not 25-hydroxy-vitamin D serum level correlates with healing of venous leg ulcers. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 2017;65(5):455-461.
Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| PMID | 27663530 |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00005-016-0438-3 |
| Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis |
| Study Type | Human observational |
| Evidence Level | III |
| Sample | Human patients with venous leg ulcers |
| Peptide(s) Studied | LL-37 |
Key Findings
- Serum LL-37 levels positively correlated with wound healing outcomes in patients with venous leg ulcers
- Higher circulating LL-37 concentrations were associated with faster wound area reduction and improved healing trajectories
- Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels did not independently correlate with healing, despite vitamin D being a known inducer of LL-37 expression
- The dissociation between vitamin D and healing outcomes while LL-37 correlated directly suggests that LL-37 itself — rather than vitamin D status — is the functionally relevant biomarker for wound repair
- This represents one of the few human clinical studies directly linking endogenous LL-37 levels to a clinical wound healing endpoint
Study Design
Prospective observational study in patients presenting with venous leg ulcers. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for LL-37 and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentrations. Wound healing was assessed by serial wound area measurements over the treatment period. Correlations between biomarker levels and healing outcomes were analyzed statistically.
Limitations
- Observational design; cannot establish causation between LL-37 levels and healing
- Relatively small patient cohort typical of wound healing studies
- Single-center study limiting generalizability
- Serum LL-37 may not directly reflect local wound tissue concentrations
- Confounding variables (nutrition, comorbidities, wound care protocols) may influence outcomes
Clinical Relevance
This is one of the few human studies providing direct clinical evidence linking LL-37 to wound healing. The finding that serum LL-37 — not vitamin D — correlates with venous ulcer healing suggests LL-37 may serve as both a biomarker for healing potential and a therapeutic target. For practitioners, this supports the rationale for exogenous LL-37 administration to promote wound healing, particularly in patients with low endogenous LL-37 levels. It also suggests that vitamin D supplementation alone may be insufficient if LL-37 production is impaired.
Related
#research #observational #evidence-level-III