LL-37 induces inflammatory changes in the urinary bladder (A, B, C, and D: normal bladder; E, F, G, and H: 24 hr after 250 µM LL-37 treatment).

Microscopic observations show that LL-37 causes edema (*), massive infiltration of leukocytes including PMNs and occasional hemorrhage (black arrow head) along with urothelial erosion (arrow). A and E are photostiched images of the entire bladder surface stained with H&E (lower panels are the enlarged views of the square regions). B and F are immunostained images for Ly6G, the surface antigen from PMNs (blue arrowheads). C and G are immunostained images for IL-6 showing strong immunoreactivities of IL-6 at the submucosal area in the LL-37 treated bladder. D and H are immunostained images for PTX-3 showing marked increase of PTX-3 positive cells in the LL-37 treated bladder. Lu: lumen, Mu: mucosa, ML: muscle layer.