Keywords
inflammation, TNF-α, infection
PROLIFERATION, INFLAMMATION, DIABETIC FOOT ULCER, INFECTION
Wound healing in DFU (diabetic foot ulcer) has prolonged inflammation phase and defective granulation tissue formation. LL-37 has antimicrobial property, induces angiogenesis, and keratinocyte migration and proliferation. This study analyzes the efficacy of LL-37 cream in enhancing wound healing rate and decreasing the levels of IL-1α, TNF-α, and the number of aerobic bacteria colonization in DFU with mild infection. This study was conducted from January 2020 to June 2021 in Jakarta. Subjects were instructed to apply either LL-37 cream or placebo cream twice a week for 4 weeks. Wounds were measured on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 and processed with ImageJ. The levels of LL-37, IL-1α, and TNF-α from wound fluid were measured using ELISA. The number of aerobic bacteria colonization was counted from the isolate grown in culture. The levels of LL-37 in DFU at baseline were equally low in both groups which were 1.07 (0.37–4.96) ng/mg protein in the LL-37 group and 1.11 (0.24–2.09) ng/mg protein in the placebo group. The increase in granulation index was consistently greater in the LL-37 group on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 (