Effect of l-arginine on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) or homocysteine-accelerated endothelial cell aging

We investigated here the effect of l-arginine on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) or homocysteine-accelerated endothelial aging. Endothelial cells were cultured in medium containing 70 μmol/L arginine until fourteenth passage. ADMA, dl-homocysteine, and l-arginine were replaced every 48 h starting at the fourth passage. ADMA or homocysteine inhibited significantly the population doublings (PD) and accelerated the process of aging. Co-incubation with l-arginine enhanced PD, inhibited senescence associated β-galactosidase activity, and increased telomerase activity. This effect was associated with an increase in NO synthesis and NO synthase protein expression. Furthermore, l-arginine-induced NO formation was accompanied by a reduction in oxidative stress and an increase in protein expression and enzyme activity of heme oxygenase (HO)-1. The NO synthase inhibitor l-NAME completely abolished the effect of l-arginine on ADMA or homocysteine-accelerated aging. These findings demonstrate that l-arginine prevents the onset of endothelial aging in ADMA or homocysteine-treated cells by increasing NO formation and consequently the induction of HO-1. This might provide a new strategy to delay ADMA or homocysteine-accelerated aging.