Fig. 5

Scheme representing the functions of ASCs after LL-37 treatment. LL-37 enhances ASC proliferation and migration via the EGR1 and MAPK pathways. Furthermore, LL-37 stimulates the secretion of growth factors such as VEGF, TB4, SDF-1, and MCP-1 in human ASCs. CM from ASCs preconditioned with LL-37 strongly promotes hair growth in vivo. LL-37 can be modulated to activate human ASCs and may provide a therapeutic approach for tissue regeneration by enforcing the functions of ASCs (e.g., expansion, migration, and paracrine actions). ASCs adipose-derived stromal/stem cells, EGR1 early growth response 1, MAPK mitogen-activated protein kinase, VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor, TB4 thymosin beta-4, SDF-1α stromal cell-derived factor-1α, MCP-1 monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, CM conditioned medium