Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate effect of Yupingfeng granules, prepared with Chinese Medicines, on the wound healing and on the expression of aquaporin3(AQP3) and the skin barrier in the animal models of atopic dermatitis(AD).METHODS: Acute skin lesions of AD models were prepared using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzo(DNCB) in mice and animals were treated with either Yupingfeng granules or placebo for two weeks. Skin wound healing outcome was assessed by measuring skin thickness, weight(quality) of the skin, and trans-epidermal water loss(TEWL). Expression of AQP3 mRNA and protein was assessed by reverse transcriotion polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and immunoblotting, respectively.RESULTS: Yupingfeng granule treatment resulted in significant acceleration of wound healing with63.64% efficiency, which was significantly higher than that of placebo granule treatment(31.82%,P < 0.01 by Wilcoxon Rank-sum test). Skin thickness, weight of the wounded skin, and TEWL were significantly higher in the AD models compared to that of normal animals. Treatment with Yupingfeng granules resulted in significant decrease in skin thickness [(937 ± 31) vs(360 ± 21) μm, P < 0.01],weight of the wounded skin [(42 ± 4) vs(24 ± 5)mg, P < 0.01], and TEWL [(30 ± 4) vs(13 ± 4) g·h~(-1)·m-2, P < 0.01]. Yupingfeng granules also significantly down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of AQP3 in the animal models.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that Yupingfeng granules could be used in AD treatment.

Key words: Dermatitis,atopic, Aquaporin 3, Wound healing, Models,animal, Yupingfeng granules