Meng Yang

Sebacic acid (SA), a ten-carbon medium-chain dicarboxylic acid, has emerged as a multifunctional bioactive metabolite with potential applications in metabolic regulation and regenerative medicine. Evidence indicates that SA exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways, improves glucose homeostasis by enhancing mitochondrial function and suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis, and contributes to lipid metabolism via peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation. Beyond metabolic regulation, SA promotes bone repair by stimulating osteoblast differentiation and inhibiting osteoclast activity, and supports muscle regeneration by enhancing energy supply, cell proliferation, and the microenvironment. SA also serves as a monomer for poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS), enabling its use in biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds. This review synthesizes current experimental and preclinical findings on the biological functions of SA, elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms, and highlights its translational potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders and tissue regeneration.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the primary metabolites of dietary fiber fermented by intestinal flora. They play a systemic role in the immune regulation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by integrating receptor-mediated signaling and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. At the receptor pathway level, SCFAs activate G protein-coupled receptors such as GPR41/43/109 A, initiate downstream signaling cascades including MAPK, NF-κB, and mTOR/STAT3, and thereby achieve rapid modulation of immune cell function; at the epigenetic regulatory level, SCFAs induce chromatin remodeling and gene expression reprogramming by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, giving immune cells long-term functional memory. These two pathways act coordinately to broadly regulate the functional status of innate and adaptive immune cells. In innate immune cells, SCFAs influence macrophage polarization, neutrophil activation, dendritic cell antigen presentation, mast cell degranulation, and eosinophil-mediated immune homeostasis; in adaptive immune cells, SCFAs regulate the differentiation of CD4 + T cell subsets, CD8 + T cell effector function, regulatory T cell stability, B cell antibody production and cytokine secretion of congenital lymphocytes (ILCs). These immunomodulatory effects are integrated in multiple metabolic organs such as adipose tissue, liver, islet and intestine to collectively improve T2DM-related chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. Investigation of SCFAs reveals the molecular basis of the interaction between intestinal flora and host immune metabolism, and provides a theoretical foundation for the prevention and treatment of T2DM based on dietary intervention or microecological regulation.

Human epidermal growth factor (EGFR) is an important target for antitumor drug research. A series of novel quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized and developed as potent inhibitors of EGFR. The results showed that most of the aimed compounds had potential anti-tumor cell proliferation activities. Some compounds were tested for their EGFR inhibitory activity. Especially, compound 6d showed the most potent antitumor activity with IC50 values of 1.58 µM against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines and exhibited the most potent EGFR inhibitory activity with IC50 of 0.77 µM. Docking simulation was performed to position compound 6d into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding conformation.

Recombinant protein technology has emerged as an excellent option for vaccine development. However, prior to our study, the immune induction ability of recombinant Mycoplasma suis alpha-enolase (rMseno) in animals remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to develop a rMseno protein subunit vaccine and to determine its ability to elicit an immunological response. To accomplish this, we cloned the gene into pET-15b, expressed it in BL21 cells, and purified it. Following the establishment of immunity, the immunogenicity and potential for protection of rMseno were evaluated in mice and piglets. The results demonstrate that anti-M. suis serum recognized the pure rMseno protein in both mice and piglets as evidenced by high levels of specific anti-rMseno antibodies, significantly increased levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines, and significantly increased T lymphocyte proliferation index. Piglets also had significantly increased levels of specific IgG₁, IgG_2a, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ cells. The rMseno findings demonstrated a robust immunological response in mice and piglets, affording partial clinical protective efficacy in piglets.