Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria lack lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an integral component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, but their presence in tissues triggers inflammatory response similar to LPS in terms of tumour-necrosis factor- alpha (TNF- alpha ) and interleukin-1 production, cardiovascular abnormalities and death. To explain the responses it has been suggested that Gram-positive cell-wall components such as peptidoglycan or lipoteichoic acid are as toxic as LPS, yet experimental evidence is scarce. Here we report a possible role of bacterial DNA in triggering septic shock during Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial infections.