Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40337519›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pharmacology2025

LL37 promotes angiogenesis: a potential therapeutic strategy for lower limb ischemic diseases.

Yingying Yang, Gang Wu, Yini Wang, Qiancheng Mao, Dongxu Zhang, Jitao Wu

Abstract read
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Article in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yingying YangYantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.
Gang WuYantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.
Yini WangYantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.
Qiancheng MaoYantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.
Dongxu ZhangYantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.
Jitao WuYantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: To study the angiogenic capacity of antimicrobial peptide LL37 (cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide), explore its molecular mechanisms, and provide new ideas for treating lower limb ischemic diseases. Methods: LL37 was applied exogenously to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and its effects on cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), plate cloning, scratch, and angiogenesis assays. A mouse lower limb ischemia model was established, with LL37 injected intramuscularly on days 0, 4, and 8. Blood flow recovery was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry. Immunofluorescence staining detected cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) and cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) expression, while Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining assessed muscle cell morphology. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analyzed gene and protein expression changes in HUVECs. Results: LL37 enhanced the proliferative, migratory, and pro-angiogenic abilities of HUVECs. It significantly improved blood flow recovery in ischemic limbs, with higher CD31/CD34 expression and more intact muscle morphology. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated elevated expression of angiogenesis-related genes in LL37-treated HUVECs. Western blotting revealed increased vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression and enhanced phosphorylation levels of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in LL37-treated cells. Conclusion: LL37 promotes angiogenesis via the VEGFA-PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, showing potential for treating lower limb ischemia by improving perfusion.

Indexed as

angiogenesisantimicrobial peptideLL37lower limb ischemiaVEGFA-PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Identifiers

PMID40337519
PMCPMC12055537

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.