Genetic Insights Into Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Reassessing the Role of LCE3C_LCE3B Deletion

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder. Polysensitisation, defined as hypersensitivity to ≥ 3 unrelated allergens, reflects a more severe clinical form. The LCE3C_LCE3B deletion, implicated in skin barrier dysfunction, has a yet unclear role in the susceptibility to ACD and polysensitisation.

This study aims to evaluate the association between LCE3C_LCE3B deletion and susceptibility to ACD and polysensitisation in the Tunisian population.

A case-control study included 94 confirmed ACD patients and 125 age- and sex-matched controls without immune-related diseases. Patch testing followed the European Baseline Series. LCE3C_LCE3B genotyping was performed using conventional three-primer PCR after DNA extraction by the salting-out method.

Polysensitisation was observed in 33% of ACD cases. Genotyping of the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion did not reveal statistically significant differences in allelic or genotypic frequencies between ACD cases and controls. Furthermore, no statistically significant association was found between the LCE3C_LCE3B del and polysensitisation. Similarly, no significant associations were observed between the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion and sensitisation to metals, including nickel, cobalt and chromium.

No significant association was found between the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion and either ACD or polysensitisation. Larger studies are needed to clarify the genetic contribution to these conditions.