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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Accessing the Cytotoxicity and Cell Response to Biomaterials
Published on: July 8, 2021
The antimicrobial peptide LL37 induces the migration of human pulp cells: a possible adjunct for regenerative
Mikihito Kajiya1, Hideki Shiba, Hitoshi Komatsuzawa
1Department of Periodontal Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
Introduction:
The antimicrobial peptide LL37 has multiple functions, such as the induction of angiogenesis and migration. Pulp cell migration is a key phenomenon in the early stage of pulp-dentin complex regeneration. In this study, we examined the effect of LL37 on the migration of human pulp (HP) cells.
Methods:
HP cells at the sixth passage were exposed to LL37. The migration of HP cells was assessed by a wound-healing assay. The phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was analyzed by immunoblotting.
Results:
LL37 as well as heparin binding (HB)-EGF, which is an agonist of EGFR, induced HP cell migration. LL37 increased the level of phosphorylated EGFR. An anti-EGFR antibody, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and a JNK inhibitor abolished the migration induced by both LL37 and HB-EGF. Furthermore, the two peptides increased the levels of phosphorylated JNK.
Conclusions:
LL37 activates EGFR and JNK to induce HP cell migration, and it may contribute to enhancing the regeneration of pulp-dentin complexes.
