However, interpretation of eQTL equivalence between tissues must be considered in the context of heterogeneity of cell types. Ileal tissue, just like liver tissue, is not homogeneous in terms of cell type composition; therefore, eQTL similarities are not necessarily equally applicable to each subset of cells. In fact, cellular differences are expected to result in changes in eQTL at different anatomic locations. Conversely, overlap of eQTL between fibroblasts and ileal tissue, for instance, is at least fractionally due to the presence of fibroblasts in the human ileum.
