Application of expression quantitative trait loci analysis in pharmacogenomics

In the era of genome-wide association study (GWAS), a large number of drug response-related loci have been identified in the non-coding sequences. The interpretation of these loci in mechanism is concerned with the effects on the mRNA expression level of these genes. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studies indicate the relationship of genome variants and the level of mRNA. Its elucidation of the relationship between genetic variation and gene expression, gene interaction and gene regulatory network provides an efficacious mean for pharmacogenomics. The effects of gene polymorphism on drug responses have been unraveled thoroughly in studies which combined pharmacogenomics with eQTL and GWAS.