The top eQTL was for SNP rs104664 within the gene FAM118A (family with sequence similarity 118, member A). This SNP was found to be highly associated with FAM118A expression (Affymetrix Human 1.0 ST Exon array) in human osteoblasts [33], suggesting cross-tissue generalizability of this eQTL association. Other significant eQTL associations observed in sputum included CHURC1 (churchill domain containing 1 [MIM 608577]), HLA-DQB1 (major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ beta 1 [MIM 604305]) and HLA-DQA1 (MIM 146880), all of which were previously been found in other tissues, such as LCL [4], [34] and brain [35], according to a search of the GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) eQTL Browser (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtex, accessed 11/30/2010).
