Suppression of FoxO1/cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor α-like effector A (Cidea) axis protects mouse β-cells against palmitic acid-induced apoptosis

Chronic exposure to free fatty acid (FFA) induces pancreatic β-cell apoptosis, which may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. The cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor α-like effector (CIDE) family is involved in type 2 diabetes with obesity. In the present study, we found that only apoptosis-inducing FFA upregulated Cidea, and both apoptosis and Cidea were upregulated most strongly by palmitic acid, suggesting that the expression of Cidea is positively correlated with apoptosis. In contrast, there were weak correlations between Cideb and Cidec expression, and apoptosis. Furthermore, suppression of Cidea inhibited palmitic acid-induced apoptosis. Finally, suppression of FoxO1 inhibited palmitic acid-induced Cidea upregulation and apoptosis. These results indicate that Cidea is a critical regulator of FFA-induced apoptosis as a novel downstream target for FoxO1 in β-cells, suggesting that suppression of Cidea is a potentially useful therapeutic approach for protecting against β-cell loss in type 2 diabetes.

► We examined the role of the CIDE family in FFA-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells.
► Only apoptosis-inducing FFA upregulated Cidea.
► Cidea suppression inhibited palmitic acid-induced apoptosis.
► FoxO1 suppression inhibited palmitic acid-induced Cidea upregulation and apoptosis.
► Cidea is involved in FFA-induced apoptosis as a novel downstream target for FoxO1.