Identification of G-protein-coupled receptors involved in inflammatory disease by genetic association studies

G-protein-coupled receptors are not only highly tractable drug targets but also attractive candidates for genetic association studies because they are more polymorphic than most other classes of gene and these polymorphisms frequently lead to functional changes in the levels of expression or biological activity that can predispose to common diseases. A large-scale study to identify functional variants in G-protein-coupled receptors associated with inflammatory diseases has highlighted a spectrum of novel biological insights that range from identifying the involvement of orphan receptors in certain diseases through to highlighting new therapeutic indications for existing drugs.