Fig. 1.

LL-37 reduces hCASMC cell number and viability. Phase-contrast microscopic pictures showing morphology of control cells (a) and cells treated with 0.1 (b), 1 (c) and 10 (d) µM LL-37 for 72 h. Bar in d represents 50 µm and applies to panels a–d. Cell morphology was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy using an Olympus CKX41 microscope (Olympus). e Cell counting shows that treatment with 10 µM LL-37 for 72 h reduces cell number by about 75%. f High (10 µM), but not low (0.1 and 1 µM), concentrations of LL-37 reduce cell viability. The cells were treated with or without LL-37 for 4 h and cell viability assessed by the MTT method. Values are presented as mean ± SEM of 3–4 observations in each group. ** and *** represent P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively, vs. control