Combining omics data to identify genes associated with allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is a common chronic disorder characterized by immunoglobulin E-mediated inflammation. To identify new genes associated with this trait, we performed genome- and epigenome-wide association studies and linked marginally significant CpGs located in genes or its promoter and SNPs located 1 Mb from the CpGs, by identifying methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL). This approach relies on functional cellular aspects rather than stringent statistical correction. We were able to identify one gene with significant -mQTL for allergic rhinitis, caudal-type homeobox 1 (). We also identified 11 genes with marginally significant -mQTLs ( < 0.05) including one with both allergic rhinitis with or without asthma (). Moreover, most SNPs identified were not located closest to the gene they were linked to through -mQTLs counting the one linked to located in a gene previously associated with asthma and atopic dermatitis. By combining omics data, we were able to identify new genes associated with allergic rhinitis and better assess the genes linked to associated SNPs.