Tonsillar expression quantitative trait loci verify and expand genetic contributors to childhood atopic diseases

We paired genotyping with gene expression profiling across four populations of tonsil-derived immune cell types – including previously uncharacterized germinal center B cells – collected from 103 children across development (ages 1-18). Using these data, we report cell-type specific gene networks and identify 13,393 eGenes (1,793 eGenes not previously reported in similar datasets) influenced by 27,603 eQTLs (5,199 not previously reported). We link discovered eQTLs to associations identified in pediatric and adult asthma and atopy traits, nominating 78 eGenes like TRAF3, ZBTB10 and JAZF1 in disease relevant cell types.