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World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2026; 32(17): 116386
Published online May 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i17.116386
Published online May 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i17.116386
Qiweizhigan granule ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by modulating the galectin 3/tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6-mediated ferroptosis
Yu-Nuo Yang, Yun-Hong Sun, Ming-Zhe Zhu, Yi-Rong Wang, Meng Li, Li Zhang, Wen-Jun Zhou, Guang Ji, Yan-Qi Dang, Institute of Digestive Diseases, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
Yun-Hong Sun, Ming-Zhe Zhu, School of Public Health, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Kai Wang, Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Jing Ma, Dan Hu, Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China
Li Zhang, Wen-Jun Zhou, Guang Ji, Yan-Qi Dang, State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
Co-first authors: Yu-Nuo Yang and Yun-Hong Sun.
Co-corresponding authors: Guang Ji and Yan-Qi Dang.
Author contributions: Yang YN and Sun YH wrote the initial manuscript as co-first authors; Yang YN, Sun YH, Zhu MZ and Wang YR performed the research; Li M, Wang K and Ma J reviewed the manuscript; Zhang L, Hu D, Zhou WJ, Ji G, and Dang YQ designed the research study; Ji G and Dang YQ have played important roles in the manuscript preparation as co-corresponding authors; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82530124; Digestive Diseases Committee of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine-The Youth Empowerment Program, No. 202557-006; and State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, No. LSLSKL20240127.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: The Experimental Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine granted approval for this study (No. PZSHTCM210625020).
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: All datasets generated for this study are included in the article.
Corresponding author: Yan-Qi Dang, PhD, Institute of Digestive Diseases, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Tra
Received: November 14, 2025
Revised: January 6, 2026
Accepted: February 13, 2026
Published online: May 7, 2026
Processing time: 164 Days and 1.4 Hours
Revised: January 6, 2026
Accepted: February 13, 2026
Published online: May 7, 2026
Processing time: 164 Days and 1.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study reveals that galectin 3 plays a critical role in the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by regulating ferroptosis through the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6/glutathione peroxidase 4 axis. The traditional Chinese medicine Qiweizhigan granule significantly alleviates the progression of metabolic dysfun