Antimicrobial Peptides: The Innate Immune System

Before the adaptive immune system makes antibodies, the innate system uses antimicrobial peptides like LL-37 that physically disrupt microbial membranes. These peptides are the body's first chemical line of defense.

LL-37 also modulates inflammation and wound healing, which is why it's researched beyond simple infection control. Its dual role — direct membrane disruption plus immune-cell recruitment — is characteristic of the cathelicidin family. Members discuss it as a window into innate immunity rather than a supplement, and the thread below covers both the microbiology and the limitations of exogenous antimicrobial peptides.