Reducing sugars and dicarbonyls form covalent adducts with proteins through a nonenzymatic process known as glycation, which inactivates proteins, is increased in diabetic patients and is associated with diabetic complications, including retinopathy, cataracts, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiomyopathy and skin defects. We recently characterized DJ-1/Park7 as a protein deglycase that repairs proteins from glycation by glyoxal and methylglyoxal, two major glycating agents which are responsible for up to 65% of glycation events. In this study, we investigated the ability of DJ-1 to prevent protein glycation in keratinocytes. Glycation of collagen and keratinocyte proteins was tested by measuring ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence emission. Protein glycation in HaCaT keratinocytes was investigated by immunodetection with anti advanced glycation endproduct antibodies, after DJ-1 depletion or overexpression. In vitro, DJ-1 prevented glycation of collagen and keratinocyte protein extracts. In cell culture, DJ-1 depletion by small interfering RNAs resulted in a 3-fold increase in protein glycation levels. Moreover, protein glycation levels were decreased several-fold in cells overexpressing DJ-1 after addition of the Nrf2 inducer sulforaphane or after transfection with a DJ-1 plasmid. Thus, the DJ-1 deglycase plays a major role in preventing protein glycation in eukaryotic cells and might be important for preventing skin glycation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.