GTP-cyclohydrolase I (GTP-CHI) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme for the de novo biosynthesis of biopterin. The present study was to observe the effect of 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxy-pyrimidine (DAHP),an inhibtor of GTP-CHI, on the development of postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. Methods: 56 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: normal control group (n= 10), scald control group(n= 10),pos tburn sepsis group (n= 20) and DA HP treatment group (n= 16). In the scald control group, rats were subjected to a 20% total body surface area (TBSA) Ⅲ° scald injury, then sacrificed at 24 hrs. In the postburn sepsis group (n=20), rats were inflicted with 20% TBSA Ⅲ° scald followed by Staphylococcus aureus challenge, and they were further divided into 2 and 6 hrs groups. In the DAHP treatment group (n= 16), animals were intraperitoneally injected with a dose of 1g/kg DAHP prior to Staphylococcus aureus challenge, and then further divided into 2, 6 hrs groups. Tissue samples from liver, kidneys, lungs and heart were collected to determine GTP-CHI, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression. Meanwhile, biopterin and nitric oxide (NO) levels in these tissues were also measured. Results: After the scald injury followed by Staphylococcus aureus challenge, GTP-CHI mRNA expression and biopterin levels significantly elevated in various tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys and lungs, so did the values of iNOS mRNA expression and NO formation (P＜0.01). Pretreatment with DAHP could significantly reduce GTP-CHI/biopterin induction (P＜0. 05～0. 01), and the up-regulation of iNOS/NO was also suppressed. Furthermore, DAHP administration could also inhibit the gene expression of TNF-α. 2 hrs after septic challenge, TNF-α mRNA expression in liver, kidneys and lungs in DAHP-treated group were 35.7%, 37.3% and 33.0% of those in postburn septic group, respectively. Additionally, in animals without DAHP treatment, the 6-hour mortality was 55.6% (20/36), while it was only 25.0% in DAHP-treated animals (4/16, P=0. 08). Conclusions: Early treatment with DAHP might be a potential strategy to prevent the development of postburn Staphylococcal sepsis, which appears to be associated with down-regulation of biopterin and NO formation by DAHP.