The function of ACOT8 (acyl-CoA thioesterase 8, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000101473) is as follows. Catalyzes the hydrolysis of acyl-CoAs into free fatty acids and coenzyme A (CoASH), regulating their respective intracellular levels (PubMed:15194431, PubMed:9153233, PubMed:9299485). Displays no strong substrate specificity with respect to the carboxylic acid moiety of Acyl-CoAs (By similarity). Hydrolyzes medium length (C2 to C20) straight-chain, saturated and unsaturated acyl-CoAS but is inactive towards substrates with longer aliphatic chains (PubMed:9153233, PubMed:9299485). Moreover, it catalyzes the hydrolysis of CoA esters of bile acids, such as choloyl-CoA and chenodeoxycholoyl-CoA and competes with bile acid CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAAT) (By similarity). Is also able to hydrolyze CoA esters of dicarboxylic acids (By similarity). It is involved in the metabolic regulation of peroxisome proliferation (PubMed:15194431). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P58137, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15194431, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9153233, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9299485}. (Microbial infection) May mediate Nef-induced down-regulation of CD4 cell-surface expression (PubMed:9153233). .