To investigate the effect of three red wines (RWs) from different growing areas and made from different grapes on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, in young and senescent human endothelial cells (ECs). All RWs decreased ADMA levels, but 2-fold concentration of German RW was necessary to reach the same effect on ADMA compared to Italian RW and French RW without affecting the cell viability and morphology. The ADMA-lowering effect of RW was increased in senescent compared to Young cells, accompanied by enhanced activity of the metabolizing enzyme: dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) II, whereas the same amount in the upregulated protein expression of DDAH II and the downregulated protein expression of the synthesizing enzyme: protein arginine methyltransferase I was revealed. These effects were associated with decreased 8-iso-prostaglandin F-2 alpha and peroxynitrite formation, enhanced protein expression of NAD(+)-dependent class III histone deacetylase sirtuin (SIRT) 1, and downregulated protein expression of histone senescence factor p53. Blockade of SIRT1 activity abolished the effect of red wine on ADMA. These data are the first demonstration that RW by activating SIRT1 impairs synthesis and increases metabolism of ADMA. This effect of RW is accentuated in senescent cells probably due to enhanced DDAH activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.