The human skin and oral microbiome in healthy individuals with psoriasis risk factor LCE3B/C-del

Late Cornified Envelope (LCE) proteins are predominantly expressed in the skin and other cornified epithelia. Based on sequence similarity, this eighteen-member homologous gene family has been subdivided into six groups. The LCE3 proteins have been focus of dermatological research as the combined deletion of LCE3B and LCE3C genes (LCE3B/C-del) is a risk factor for psoriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in skin microbiota (from the lower back) and in oral microbiota (from the saliva) between healthy individuals with LCE genotype LCE3B/C-wild type (-wt; here also referred to as LCE2 or LCE wt/wt) or LCE3B/C-deletion (-del; LCE0 or LCE del/del). Multiplex Illumina MiSeq marker gene sequencing of V3 and V4 hyper-variable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was used to define the skin and oral microbial communities. The antimicrobial activity of LCE proteins and the impact of the LCE3B/C-del genotype on the skin and oral microbiota, implicate an important role for these proteins and microbes in psoriasis.