Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is toxic during neonatal murine influenza virus infection.

Rao, Abhishek S et al.·Journal of immunology (Baltimore·2025·low-moderateAnimal StudyAnimal Study
RPEP-13201Animal Studylow-moderate2025RETHINKTHC RESEARCH DATABASErethinkthc.com/research

Quick Facts

Study Type
Animal Study
Evidence
low-moderate
Sample
N=Not specified (animal study)
Participants
3-day-old neonatal mice with influenza infection

What This Study Found

In neonatal mice with influenza, the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide CRAMP was harmful rather than protective. Mice lacking CRAMP had better survival after infection.

Key Numbers

3-day-old neonatal mice; CRAMP knockout mice had improved influenza survival; LGG treatment downregulated CRAMP expression.

How They Did This

Neonatal mouse influenza model comparing CRAMP-knockout and wild-type mice. LGG probiotic treatment. Transcriptional analysis.

Why This Research Matters

Cathelicidins are usually considered protective. This finding that they can be toxic in neonatal viral infections challenges assumptions about innate immune peptides.

What This Study Doesn't Tell Us

Mouse neonatal model. Neonatal mouse immunity differs substantially from human neonatal immunity. Single virus strain tested.

Trust & Context

Original Title:
Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is toxic during neonatal murine influenza virus infection.
Published In:
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 214(5), 1022-1031 (2025)
Database ID:
RPEP-13201

Evidence Hierarchy

Meta-Analysis / Systematic Review
Randomized Controlled Trial
Cohort / Case-Control
Cross-Sectional / Observational
Case Report / Animal StudyOne case or non-human subjects
This study

Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.

What do these levels mean? →

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Cite This Study

RPEP-13201·https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13201

APA

Rao, Abhishek S; Ugwu, Nneka; Onufer, Abigail P; Kumova, Ogan; Carey, Alison J. (2025). Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is toxic during neonatal murine influenza virus infection.. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 214(5), 1022-1031. https://doi.org/10.1093/jimmun/vkae053

MLA

Rao, Abhishek S, et al. "Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is toxic during neonatal murine influenza virus infection.." Journal of immunology (Baltimore, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/jimmun/vkae053

RethinkPeptides

RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is toxic ..." RPEP-13201. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/rao-2025-cathelicidinrelated-antimicrobial-peptide-cramp

Access the Original Study

Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.