Autoantigens in human sweat: purification and characterization of the D-group antigens.

We have found several heteropolysaccharides in human thermal sweat which are both autoantigenic and isoantigenic for a majority of healthy adults. They are present in trace amounts and are difficult to isolate. We have facilitated extraction through the use of a DEAE-Sephadex batch technique. One of the major antigenic fractions, the D group, has been purified and characterized. It contains 88.5 per cent carbohydrate as uronic acid, hexosamine, methyl pentose, and glucose. The protein content was 12.5 per cent.