Effect of coenzyme A on triglyceride and very-low-density lipoproteins secretion in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Exogenous coenzyme A (CoA) decreases plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, and Apo B in man. CoA regulates lipid metabolism favouring beta-oxidation in hepatic peroxisomes of very-long-chain fatty acids. Furthermore recent studies show that CoA participates in the transport processes which occur in the Golgi apparatus. The aim of this study was to establish whether exogenous CoA is able to modify the lipid composition of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and the VLDL secretion in rat hepatocyte culture. The presence of 5mM CoA produces a significant decrease of VLDL triacylglycerol, of VLDL total cholesterol and of VLDL esterified cholesterol by 32%, 39% and 41% respectively. This decrease is observed in all the three days of hepatocyte culture. On the third day a significant decrease of cytosolic triacylglycerols is also observed. The decrease in VLDL secretion depends on the concentration of CoA added to the culture medium. Our study shows that exogenous CoA decreases the plasma VLDL concentration because it reduces VLDL secretion by the hepatocytes.