Induction of nitric oxide synthase by lipoteichoic acid from Staphylococcus aureus in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Inducible vascular nitric oxide synthase accounts for the contractile impairment observed in endotoxemia. We provide evidence that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Staphylococcus aureus, a micro-organism without endotoxin, also induces nitric oxide synthase. Our study demonstrates that on endothelium-free rings of rat aorta. LTA-like lipopolysaccharide induces a loss of contractility restored by Methylene blue and NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (LNAME). Moreover in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, LTA produces a dose-dependent increase in intracellular cyclic GMP which is antagonized by LNAME and prevented by dexamethasone.