Cell-density-dependent uptake of chylomicron remnants in rat hepatocyte monolayers. Effects of compactin and mevalonic acid.

In rat hepatocytes cultured in lipoprotein-deficient serum, the uptake and degradation of chylomicron remnant cholesteryl ester per mg cell protein varies inversely with cell density. Compactin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase, stimulates the uptake at all cell densities. Mevalonic acid, on the other hand, can suppress a significant part of the remnant uptake. Chylomicron remnant uptake in hepatocyte cultures can thus be influenced by factors known to regulate the apolipoprotein-BE receptor activity.