[Effect of Chinese herbs on expression of aquaporin 3,4 gene in gastric mucosa of patients with Pi-Wei Damp-Heat syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between Pi-Wei Damp-Heat Syndrome (PWDHS) with expression of aquaporin (AQP) 3,4 gene in gastric mucosa and the effects of Qingre Huashi Recipe (QHR) on the expression.


METHODS
Sixty-eight patients with chronic superficial gastritis were differentiated into Pi-Wei Damp-Heat Syndrome group (PWDHS, n = 53, 19 cases with predominant Dampness, 14 cases with predominant Heat, 20 cases with Dampness equal to Heat) and Pi deficiency Syndrome group (PDS, n = 15). The PWDHS were treated with QHR. The expression of AQP 3,4 gene in the two groups were determined by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR).


RESULTS
Expression of AQP 3 gene in PWDHS was higher than that in PDS and the healthy group, but the difference showed no statistical significance. Expression of AQP 4 gene in PWDHS was obvious higher than that in PDS and the healthy group (P <0.05 or P <0.01), but the difference of AQP 4 gene expression between PDS and the healthy group was insignificant. Comparison among various sub-types of PWDHS showed that the AQP 4 gene expression in the predominant dampness > dampness equal to heat> predominant heat. AQP 3,4 gene expression in PWDHS was significantly decreased after QHR treatment, especially in the cases with predominant dampness syndrome (P <0.01), approaching that in the healthy group and PDS.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal expression of AQP 3,4 gene may be one of the possible mechanisms of PWDHS pathogenesis, Chinese herbs could influence AQP 3,4 gene expression to play a key role in treatment.
Chen
Geng-xin
GX
Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou. cgx0101@sohu.com
Lao
Shao-xian
SX
Huang
Zhi-xin
ZX
D000328:Adult; D051400:Aquaporin 3; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy
C496027:AQP3 protein, human; C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D020346:Aquaporins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051400:Aquaporin 3