Context: Cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector A (CIDEA) could be a potential target for the treatment of obesity via the modulation of metabolic rate, based on the findings that CIDEA inhibits the brown adipose tissue uncoupling process in rodents.

Objective: To investigate the putative link between CIDEA and basal metabolic rate in humans, and to further elucidate the role of CIDEA in human obesity.

Design: We have explored CIDEA gene expression in adipose tissue in two different human studies: A cross-sectional and population-based study assessing body composition and metabolic rate (Mölndal Metabolic study, n=92), and a longitudinal intervention-study of obese subjects treated with a very low calorie diet (VLCD study, n=24).

Results: The CIDEA gene was predominantly expressed in adipocytes as compared to other human tissues. CIDEA gene expression in adipose tissue was inversely associated with basal metabolic rate independently of body composition, age and gender (p=0.014). VLCD induced an increase in adipose tissue CIDEA expression (p<0.0001) with a subsequent decrease in response to refeeding (p<0.0001). Reduced CIDEA gene expression was associated with a high body fat content (p<0.0001) and with high insulin levels (p<0.01). No dysregulation of CIDEA expression was observed in individuals with the metabolic syndrome when compared with BMI-matched controls. In a separate sample of VLCD-treated subjects (n=10), uncoupling protein 1 expression was reduced during diet (p=0.0026) and inversely associated with CIDEA expression (p=0.0014).

Conclusion: The findings are consistent with the concept that CIDEA plays a role in adipose tissue energy expenditure.