To define the mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) action in the glomerulus, we attempted to identify genes that are regulated by NO in rat glomerular mesangial cells. We identified a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) that was strongly induced in these cells by treatment with S-nitroso-glutathione as a NO-donating agent. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) acutely decreased Cu/Zn SOD mRNA levels. The LPS-mediated decrease in Cu/Zn SOD is reversed by endogenously produced NO, as LPS also induced a delayed strong iNOS expression in these cells in vitro, which is accompanied by increased Cu/Zn SOD expression. NO dependency of Cu/Zn SOD mRNA recovery could be demonstrated by inhibition of this process by L-NG-monomethylarginine, an inhibitor of NOS enzymatic activity. To demonstrate the in vivo relevance of our observations, we have chosen LPS-treated rats as a model for induction of a systemic inflammatory response. In these animals, we demonstrate a direct coupling of Cu/Zn SOD expression levels to the presence of NO, as Cu/Zn SOD mRNA levels declined during acute inflammation in the presence of a selective inhibitor of iNOS. We propose that the up-regulation of Cu/Zn SOD by endogenous NO may serve as an adaptive, protective mechanism to prevent the formation of toxic quantities of peroxynitrite in conditions associated with iNOS induction during endotoxic shock.