OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in serum and induced sputum supernatant in children with bronchiolitis, as well as its role in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis in children.

METHODSA total of 67 children with bronchiolitis who were diagnosed and hospitalized between July 2015 and January 2017 were enrolled. According to the diagnostic criteria, these children were divided into mild group with 22 children, moderate group with 24 children, and severe group with 21 children. A total of 20 children who underwent physical examination were enrolled as healthy control group. ELISA was used to measure the level of ICAM-1 in serum and induced sputum supernatant in the children with bronchiolitis in the acute stage and recovery stage and the children in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, the mild, moderate, and severe bronchiolitis groups had a significant increase in the level of ICAM-1 in serum and sputum (P<0.01). Compared with the mild group, the moderate and severe groups had a significant increase in the level of ICAM-1 in serum and sputum (P<0.01). Compared with the moderate group, the severe group had a significant increase in the level of ICAM-1 in serum and sputum (P<0.01). Compared with the children with bronchiolitis in the acute stage, the children in the recovery stage had a significant reduction in the level of ICAM-1 in serum and sputum (P<0.01). The correlation analysis showed that in the acute stage, the level of ICAM-1 in serum was positively correlated with that in sputum in children with bronchiolitis (r=0.875, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSICAM-1 is involved in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis and is associated with disease severity.