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March 29, 2026Circulation Journal0 citationsOpen Access

Cathelicidin Links Visceral Fat Accumulation and Coronary Artery Disease

MTMotoki TaniguchiATA TaruyaCKChie Kitahara

Key Result

Plasma cathelicidin (LL37) concentrations were significantly higher in individuals with visceral fat accumulation compared to normal-weight individuals (99.11 vs 58.63 ng/mL).

Key Points

  • This research aims to clarify the connection between visceral fat accumulation, cathelicidin levels, and coronary artery disease.
  • Analyzed visceral fat distribution and cathelicidin levels
  • Investigated the relationship with coronary artery disease
  • Explored the role of epicardial adipose tissue in inflammation
  • Found a significant link between elevated cathelicidin levels and visceral fat accumulation
  • Coronary artery disease severity was associated with increased visceral fat
  • Implied potential therapeutic role of targeting cathelicidin in CAD management

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=78)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does visceral fat accumulation correlate with cathelicidin (LL37) levels, and does cathelicidin suppression prevent atherosclerosis?

P
Population
78 subjects without CAD (stratified into normal-weight, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat groups), 9 patients undergoing open-heart surgery, and an animal model (WT and Apoe-/- mice)
I
Intervention
CRAMP siRNA (in animal model)
C
Comparator
Scrambled siRNA or vehicle (in animal model)
O
Outcome
Plasma LL37 concentrations across obesity groups, LL37 expression in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and atherosclerotic lesion area in micesurrogate

Plasma LL37 concentrations correlate with visceral fat accumulation and epicardial adipose tissue, and suppressing cathelicidin reduces atherosclerosis in mice, suggesting LL37 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for obesity-related CAD.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 99.11% vs 58.63%

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

  • CRAMP knockdown was assessed at a single time point, leaving temporal dynamics and long-term effects unclear.
  • Japanese single-center study with a relatively small sample size.
  • EAT samples were surgically obtained, meaning sampling errors cannot be excluded.
  • Cross-sectional design precludes inferring causal relationships between LL37 expression and CAD or obesity-related phenotypes.
  • Tissue-based analyses were limited by small sample size and lacked direct functional validation.
  • exploratory findings warranting prospective validation

Abstract

Background: Visceral fat (VF), particularly epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), plays a crucial role in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cathelicidin (LL37) is an antimicrobial peptide involved in innate immunity and has been implicated in inflammatory processes. However, the relationship between VF accumulation, cathelicidin, and atherosclerosis remains unclear.

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Cite This Study

Taniguchi et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Visceral Fat Accumulation (n=78). Plasma cathelicidin (LL37) concentrations were significantly higher in individuals with visceral fat accumulation compared to normal-weight individuals (99.11 vs 58.63 ng/mL).

synapsesocial.com/papers/69c8c115de0f0f753b39bad3https://doi.org/10.1253/circj.cj-25-0829
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