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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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LCE3C
late cornified envelope 3C
Chromosome 1 · 1q21.3
NCBI Gene: 353144Ensembl: ENSG00000244057.5HGNC: HGNC:16612UniProt: Q5T5A8
35PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingkilling of cells of another organismdefense response to Gram-negative bacteriumdefense response to Gram-positive bacteriumpsoriasistype 2 diabetes mellitusankylosing spondylitisulcerative colitis
✦AI Summary

LCE3C is a structural protein component of the cornified envelope in the stratum corneum that contributes to innate cutaneous host defense. It possesses defensin-like antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including aerobic and anaerobic species. Upon skin inflammation, LCE3C may regulate barrier repair by modulating cutaneous microbiota composition and shaping immune responses to bacterial antigens. Genetically, the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion polymorphism is a well-established susceptibility factor for psoriasis across multiple ethnic groups. Meta-analyses confirm significant associations in European (OR 1.21) 1 and Asian populations (OR 1.27-2.08) 1, with the deletion explaining part of psoriasis heritability 2. The LCE3C_LCE3B deletion also associates with psoriatic arthritis 3, rheumatoid arthritis 45, and systemic lupus erythematosus 4, suggesting a shared role for skin barrier defects in autoimmune disease susceptibility. Evolutionarily, this deletion has been maintained under balancing selection since Human-Denisovan divergence, likely reflecting a trade-off between increased autoimmunity risk and pathogen protection 6. Clinically, LCE3C deletion status may help stratify psoriatic disease risk and represents a genetic link between skin barrier integrity and systemic autoimmunity.

Sources cited
1
LCE3C_LCE3B deletion is associated with psoriasis in European, Chinese, and Mongolian populations with specific odds ratios
PMID: 21107349
2
LCE3C_LCE3B deletion is a susceptibility factor for psoriatic arthritis with stronger association in oligoarticular disease
PMID: 21400479
3
LCE3C_LCE3B deletion associates with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese Han population
PMID: 21628307
4
Meta-analysis confirms LCE3C_LCE3B deletion association with rheumatoid arthritis across multiple populations
PMID: 22384135
5
LCE3C_LCE3B is among prominent genes identified via GWAS for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis pathogenesis
PMID: 25488777
6
LCE3C_LCE3B deletion has been maintained under balancing selection in human populations, predating Human-Denisovan divergence
PMID: 27919236
7
Different genetic variants at LCE3B/LCE3C locus predispose to either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis
PMID: 38792999
Disease Associationsⓘ20
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.14Weak
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
ankylosing spondylitisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
Crohn's diseaseOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
sclerosing cholangitisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
psoriasis vulgarisOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
skin diseaseOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
allergic contact dermatitisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
rheumatoid arthritisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
psoriatic arthritisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
gastric carcinomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
major depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
psoriasis 14, pustularOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
pancreatic serous cystadenomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Abnormal emotional stateOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
generalized pustular psoriasisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
laryngeal squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
neurotic disorderOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
LCE3BShared pathway92%LCE6AProtein interaction88%LCE3AProtein interaction87%IVLProtein interaction83%LORICRINProtein interaction83%RPTNProtein interaction83%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Ovary
0%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Brain
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
LCE3CLCE3BLCE6ALCE3AIVLLORICRINRPTN
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q5T5A8
View on AlphaFold ↗
RankingsWhere LCE3C stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #11,003of 20,598
    Most Researched35
Genes detectedLCE3C
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Association between the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion polymorphism and susceptibility to psoriasis: a meta-analysis of published studies.
PMID: 23631431
Genet Test Mol Biomarkers · 2013
1.00
2
Deletion of LCE3C and LCE3B is a susceptibility factor for psoriatic arthritis: a study in Spanish and Italian populations and meta-analysis.
PMID: 21400479
Arthritis Rheum · 2011
0.90
3
Deletion of LCE3C_LCE3B is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Chinese Han population.
PMID: 21628307
Ann Rheum Dis · 2011
0.80
4
A replication study of the association between rheumatoid arthritis and deletion of the late cornified envelope genes LCE3B and LCE3C.
PMID: 22384135
PLoS One · 2012
0.70
5
Meta-analysis confirms the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion as a risk factor for psoriasis in several ethnic groups and finds interaction with HLA-Cw6.
PMID: 21107349
J Invest Dermatol · 2011
0.60