There is a relationship between the altered human AQP3 and AQP4 mRNA expression in the mucosa of upper stomach, and the degrees (severe, mild or normal control) of spleen-stomach dampness-heat syndrome in human chronic superficial gastritis, with higher gene expression of AQP3 and AQP4, were observed in the moderate and severe groups compared with the other two groups [30]. The gene discussed is AQP3; the disease is gastritis.