Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides: current progress and future prospects in immunotherapy.
Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides are getting serious attention from immunotherapy researchers. These small defense molecules, produced by cells like neutrophils and epithelial cells, operate as a first-responder system for the innate immune response. As antibiotic resistance keeps rising, these naturally occurring peptides are showing real promise for fighting off infections—and that's only part of their story.
Dev Comp Immunol
by Ding A, Lu Z, Wu J et al.
“Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides: current progress and future prospects in immunotherapy. Ding A(1), Lu Z(2), Wu J(3), Chen Z(3), Ding R(3), Wang K(3), Sun Y(4), Wei L(5). Author information: (1)The First Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China; School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China. (2)The First Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China. (3)School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China. (4)The First Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China. Electronic address: sunyun@ahmu.edu.cn. (5)The First Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China; School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China. Electronic address: weilin@ahmu.edu.cn. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules with defensive effects that are crucial in innate immune defense. Cathelicidin AMPs are a major AMP family found in humans and other vertebrates, originating from various cell types such as neutrophils, macrophages, pancreatic β-cells and epithelial cells. Cathelicidin AMPs serve as a vital line of defense for the immune system. With the rise of antibiotic resistance, many studies are paying attention to cathelicidin AMPs, classic distinctive small immunopeptides. This article provides a systematic review of the molecular structure, biological role and mechanism of cathelicidin AMPs, along with its advancement in clinical application for treating both infectious and non-infectious disease. Additionally, this review points out the future research direction and potential application of cathelicidin AMPs, considering the limitation of current study. Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
Researchers from Anhui Medical University just published a deep dive into cathelicidin AMPs. They break down the structure, mechanisms, and clinical applications of this peptide family across both infectious and non-infectious conditions. Cathelicidins aren't just "antimicrobial"—they modulate immune responses, influence inflammation, and even help repair tissue. That means these research peptides are moving into territory where classic antibiotics never played.
Key takeaway: cathelicidins may be more than a backup plan for antibiotic failure. They could become a foundation for next-generation immunotherapies. The review highlights:
Cathelicidin AMPs are found in a wide range of vertebrates, not just humans
They’re produced by immune cells, but also show up in places like pancreatic β-cells
Their role extends to immune signaling, not just killing microbes
Studies are exploring their potential for treating everything from infections to inflammatory diseases
Limitations? Sure, there’s plenty left to figure out. But the field is advancing fast. The authors point out that optimizing clinical use and understanding all molecular mechanisms is the next step.
If you’re tracking new frontiers in peptide science, cathelicidin AMPs are a space to watch. Check our peptide research index for a broader look at current research, and stay tuned as more findings emerge in the immunotherapy arena.
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