title: Mapping complex disease traits with global gene expression.
abstract: Variation in gene expression is an important mechanism underlying susceptibility to complex disease. The simultaneous genome-wide assay of gene expression and genetic variation allows the mapping of the genetic factors that underpin individual differences in quantitative levels of expression (expression QTLs; eQTLs). The availability of systematically generated eQTL information could provide immediate insight into a biological basis for disease associations identified through genome-wide association (GWA) studies, and can help to identify networks of genes involved in disease pathogenesis. Although there are limitations to current eQTL maps, understanding of disease will be enhanced with novel technologies and international efforts that extend to a wide range of new samples and tissues.
authors.affiliation: National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LY, UK. w.cookson@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Gonçalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abecasis
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lathrop
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci