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

## TL;DR

This study investigated the genetic link between a specific deletion and allergic skin reactions in Tunisia but found no significant connection.

## Contribution

The study provides new population-specific insights into the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion's role in allergic contact dermatitis in Tunisians.

## Key findings

- The LCE3C_LCE3B deletion was not significantly associated with allergic contact dermatitis in Tunisian patients.
- No link was found between the deletion and hypersensitivity to multiple unrelated allergens.
- The deletion showed no significant association with metal sensitization in the studied population.

## Abstract

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.

This study found no significant association between the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion and allergic contact dermatitis or polysensitisation in Tunisian patients, suggesting that other genetic or environmental factors may contribute to disease susceptibility.