LL-37 inhibits EV71 infection by upregulating STAC

LL-37, a 37-amino acid human-derived antimicrobial peptide, exhibits antiviral functions against multiple enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. We here report that the expression of the Stac is upregulated by LL-37 regardless of EV71 infection in Caco-2 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. The treatment of LL-37 inhibits viral infection compared to the scramble(scr) control. In addition, LL-37 significantly upregulates the Stac expression in the presence or absence of EV71 infection, while the viral infection itself does not affect the expression of Stac. Take together, our data provide a novel mechanism of its antiviral activity for non-enveloped viruses, in which LL-37 modulates the host genes, interfering with the process of viral infection.