Heterogeneous expression of human cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37 in inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

In IBD the colonic expression of human cathelicidin is altered: cathelicidin expression is increased in inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis but not in Crohn's disease. This deficiency may further compromise the antimicrobial barrier in Crohn's disease.