Identification of phenotypic and expression quantitative trait loci (p/eQTLs) affecting liver fibrosis by genome-wide association analysis in recombinant inbred mouse lines

Aims: Liver fibrosis is a complex disease mediated by multiple interacting genes and environmental factors. Our aim is to identify genetic loci that confer susceptibility to liver fibrosis. We now induced fibrosis in the genetically well characterised reference panel of BXD recombinant inbred lines and linked differences in liver fibrosis to the genetic variation segregating among the lines. Methods: In total, 30 BXD lines (392 mice) were analysed after fibrosis induction by CCl4 (12 injections i.p.; 0.7mg/kg). Fibrosis progression was assessed by histological fibrosis staging, quantification of hepatic collagen…