Coordinating GWAS results with gene expression in a systems immunologic paradigm in autoimmunity

► Genome-wide association studies have identified many genetic variants associated with inflammatory disease risk. ► Gene expression may help to elucidate causal genes and functional mechanisms underlying disease susceptibility. ► Inflammatory disease variants are enriched for gene regulatory function. ► Because of context-specificity of gene regulation, functional studies need to be performed in relevant cell types. ► Disease genetics investigations will likely benefit from a 'systems genomics' approach where genomic data are leveraged.