OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of atopy on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors in children with bronchiolitis.

METHODSELISA was used to measure the changes in the serum levels of glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) and glucocorticoid receptor β (GRβ) in the bronchiolitis group (77 children, including 34 children with atopy) and pneumonia group (68 children). Thirty-eight children who were prepared to undergo surgeries for non-infectious diseases and had no atopy or family history of allergic diseases were enrolled as the control group.

RESULTSThe bronchiolitis group and the pneumonia group had significant increases in the serum levels of GRα and GRβ compared with the control group (P<0.01), and the bronchiolitis group had significant increases in these levels compared with the pneumonia group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group and the pneumonia group, the bronchiolitis group had a significant increase in the GRα/GRβ ratio (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the children with or without atopy in the bronchiolitis group had significant increases in the serum levels of GRα and GRβ (P<0.01). The non-atopic children in the bronchiolitis group had a significant increase in the serum level of GRβ compared with the atopic children (P<0.01). The atopic children in the bronchiolitis group had a significant increase in the GRα/GRβ ratio compared with the control group and non-atopic children in the bronchiolitis group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSChildren with bronchiolitis have increased serum levels of GRα and GRβ. The children with atopy have an increased GRα/GRβ ratio, suggesting that the atopic children with bronchiolitis are highly sensitive to glucocorticoids.