All significant eQTLs for the mRNA and miRNA hubs were queried against GWAS case/ control data from a large, independent genetic sample, the Collaborative Studies On Genetics of Alcohol (COGA) (N = 1399), to assess whether our eQTLs were associated with risk for AD or alcohol related phenotypes (ARPs) [57]. Since a priori molecular evidence increases the likelihood of true association, we queried our eQTLs against GWAS loci associated with AD and other ARPs using a more liberal threshold of p≤10−3. In addition to providing explanatory power to the GWAS signals, this analysis could also provide candidates for functional studies to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) through which eQTLs confer risk for developing AD.
