In traditional Chinese medicine theory

the lung is the canopy

governing water metabolism

regulating water pathway

and is the "upper source of water". Modern medicine believes that the mechanism of lung water transport includes passive and active transport. Passive transport depends on the pressure and tension in the lung tissue. Active transport mainly depends on lung water transport protein. Three major kinds of proteins of active transport

namely aquaporin（ AQP）

sodium channel protein（ ENaC） and Na

+

-K

+

-ATPase were summarized and discussed. And from the perspective of combination of disease and syndrome

prescription and drugs

the relationship between lung water transport protein and the theory of"lung governing water metabolism"was explained

so as to better understand the concept of "lung governing water metabolism"in traditional Chinese medicine.