Modulation of the activity of certain genes involved in tumor cell metabolism in the presence of the cytotoxic peptides defensin and cathelicidin LL37.

It is common knowledge that some natural antimicrobial peptides also have a tumoricidal effect. We have shown that the peptides defensin and cathelicidin LL37 have cytostatic effects on human tumor cell lines HT29 (colorectal carcinoma) and A549 (alveolar carcinoma). In order to determine the modulating mechanism of these peptides we assessed the gene expression of the and molecular targets involved in the survival, growth, proliferation and apoptosis pathways of tumor cells in the presence or absence of the studied peptides.