Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (610 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A subclass of acidic glycosphingolipids. They contain one or more sialic acid (n-acetylneuraminic acid) residues. Using the Svennerholm system of abbrevations, gangliosides are designated G for ganglioside, plus subscript M, D, or T for mono-, di-, or trisialo, respectively, the subscript letter being followed by a subscript arabic numeral to indicated sequence of migration in thin-layer chromatograms. (From Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1997)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Ganglioside; Sialoglycosphingolipids.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Acidic Glycosphingolipids
- Narrower topics
- G(M1) Ganglioside; G(M2) Ganglioside; G(M3) Ganglioside
Related concepts
- Acidic Glycosphingolipids
- N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 14,644 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Gangliosides” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,068 of them (7.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 8,612 records.
Reviews account for 1,333 records (9.1%) and meta-analyses for 6. Randomized controlled trials number 90 (0.6%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 8,612 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,832 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,132 |
| 2020 onward | 1,068 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,333 | 9.1% |
| Meta-analyses | 6 | 0.0% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 90 | 0.6% |
Method: PubMed query "Gangliosides"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GD2-CAR T cell therapy for H3K27M-mutated diffuse midline gliomas | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 736 | cc by PMID 35130560 · DOI · PMC8967714 |
| Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 196 | cc by PMID 39537919 · DOI · PMC11735388 |
| Preclinical assessment of the efficacy and specificity of GD2-B7H3 SynNotch CAR-T in metastatic neuroblastoma | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 141 | cc by PMID 33479234 · DOI · PMC7820416 |
GD2-CAR T cell therapy for H3K27M-mutated diffuse midline gliomas [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and other H3K27M-mutated diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are universally lethal paediatric tumours of the central nervous system1.
- Closing excerpt
- These early results underscore the promise of this therapeutic approach for patients with H3K27M-mutated DIPG or spinal cord DMG.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (222 words)
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and other H3K27M-mutated diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are universally lethal paediatric tumours of the central nervous system1. We have previously shown that the disialoganglioside GD2 is highly expressed on H3K27M-mutated glioma cells and have demonstrated promising preclinical efficacy of GD2-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells2, providing the rationale for a first-in-human phase I clinical trial (NCT04196413). Because CAR T cell-induced brainstem inflammation can result in obstructive hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure and dangerous tissue shifts, neurocritical care precautions were incorporated. Here we present the clinical experience from the first four patients with H3K27M-mutated DIPG or spinal cord DMG treated with GD2-CAR T cells at dose level 1 (1 × 106 GD2-CAR T cells per kg administered intravenously). Patients who exhibited clinical benefit were eligible for subsequent GD2-CAR T cell infusions administered intracerebroventricularly3. Toxicity was largely related to the location of the tumour and was reversible with intensive supportive care. On-target, off-tumour toxicity was not observed. Three of four patients exhibited clinical and radiographic improvement. Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were increased in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Transcriptomic analyses of 65,598 single cells from CAR T cell products and cerebrospinal fluid elucidate heterogeneity in response between participants and administration routes. These early results underscore the promise of this therapeutic approach for patients with H3K27M-mutated DIPG or spinal cord DMG.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35130560 · DOI · PMC8967714
Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) express high levels of the disialoganglioside GD2 (ref.
- Closing excerpt
- Sequential IV, followed by ICV GD2-CART, induced tumour regressions and neurological improvements in patients with DIPG and those with sDMG.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (254 words)
H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) express high levels of the disialoganglioside GD2 (ref. 1). Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells targeting GD2 (GD2-CART) eradicated DMGs in preclinical models1. Arm A of Phase I trial no. NCT04196413 (ref. 2) administered one intravenous (IV) dose of autologous GD2-CART to patients with H3K27M-mutant pontine (DIPG) or spinal DMG (sDMG) at two dose levels (DL1, 1 × 106 kg-1; DL2, 3 × 106 kg-1) following lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Patients with clinical or imaging benefit were eligible for subsequent intracerebroventricular (ICV) intracranial infusions (10-30 × 106 GD2-CART). Primary objectives were manufacturing feasibility, tolerability and the identification of maximally tolerated IV dose. Secondary objectives included preliminary assessments of benefit. Thirteen patients enroled, with 11 receiving IV GD2-CART on study (n = 3 DL1 (3 DIPG); n = 8 DL2 (6 DIPG, 2 sDMG)). GD2-CART manufacture was successful for all patients. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred on DL1, but three patients experienced dose-limiting cytokine release syndrome on DL2, establishing DL1 as the maximally tolerated IV dose. Nine patients received ICV infusions, with no dose-limiting toxicities. All patients exhibited tumour inflammation-associated neurotoxicity, safely managed with intensive monitoring and care. Four patients demonstrated major volumetric tumour reductions (52, 54, 91 and 100%), with a further three patients exhibiting smaller reductions. One patient exhibited a complete response ongoing for over 30 months since enrolment. Nine patients demonstrated neurological benefit, as measured by a protocol-directed clinical improvement score. Sequential IV, followed by ICV GD2-CART, induced tumour regressions and neurological improvements in patients with DIPG and those with sDMG.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39537919 · DOI · PMC11735388
Preclinical assessment of the efficacy and specificity of GD2-B7H3 SynNotch CAR-T in metastatic neuroblastoma [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The ability to utilize preclinical models to predict the clinical toxicity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in solid tumors is tenuous, thereby necessitating the development and evaluation of gated systems.
- Closing excerpt
- These improvements come partly from the better metabolic fitness of GD2-B7H3 CAR-T cells, as evidenced by their naïve T-like post-cytotoxicity oxidative metabolism and lower exhaustion profile.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (134 words)
The ability to utilize preclinical models to predict the clinical toxicity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in solid tumors is tenuous, thereby necessitating the development and evaluation of gated systems. Here we found that murine GD2 CAR-T cells, specific for the tumor-associated antigen GD2, induce fatal neurotoxicity in a costimulatory domain-dependent manner. Meanwhile, human B7H3 CAR-T cells exhibit efficacy in preclinical models of neuroblastoma. Seeking a better CAR, we generated a SynNotch gated CAR-T, GD2-B7H3, recognizing GD2 as the gate and B7H3 as the target. GD2-B7H3 CAR-T cells control the growth of neuroblastoma in vitro and in metastatic xenograft mouse models, with high specificity and efficacy. These improvements come partly from the better metabolic fitness of GD2-B7H3 CAR-T cells, as evidenced by their naïve T-like post-cytotoxicity oxidative metabolism and lower exhaustion profile.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33479234 · DOI · PMC7820416
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Functional role of glycosphingolipids and gangliosides in control of cell adhesion, motility, and growth, through glycosynaptic microdomains [4]
- Research article Structures, biosynthesis, and functions of gangliosides--an overview [5]
- Research article Gangliosides in cell recognition and membrane protein regulation [6]
- Research article The role and potential of sialic acid in human nutrition [7]
- Research article Combinatorial ganglioside biosynthesis [8]
- Research article Sphingolipids and gangliosides of the nervous system in membrane function and dysfunction [9]
References
- Majzner RG, Ramakrishna S, Yeom KW, Patel S, Chinnasamy H, Schultz LM, et al.. GD2-CAR T cell therapy for H3K27M-mutated diffuse midline gliomas. . 2022. PMID 35130560 · DOI · PMC8967714
- Monje M, Mahdi J, Majzner R, Yeom KW, Schultz LM, Richards RM, et al.. Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas. . 2025. PMID 39537919 · DOI · PMC11735388
- Moghimi B, Muthugounder S, Jambon S, Tibbetts R, Hung L, Bassiri H, et al.. Preclinical assessment of the efficacy and specificity of GD2-B7H3 SynNotch CAR-T in metastatic neuroblastoma. . 2021. PMID 33479234 · DOI · PMC7820416
- Regina Todeschini A, Hakomori SI. Functional role of glycosphingolipids and gangliosides in control of cell adhesion, motility, and growth, through glycosynaptic microdomains. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008. PMID 17991443 · DOI · PMC2312458
- Yu RK, Tsai YT, Ariga T, Yanagisawa M. Structures, biosynthesis, and functions of gangliosides--an overview. J Oleo Sci. 2011. PMID 21937853 · DOI · PMC3684167
- Lopez PH, Schnaar RL. Gangliosides in cell recognition and membrane protein regulation. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2009. PMID 19608407 · DOI · PMC2763983
- Wang B, Brand-Miller J. The role and potential of sialic acid in human nutrition. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003. PMID 14576748 · DOI
- Kolter T, Proia RL, Sandhoff K. Combinatorial ganglioside biosynthesis. J Biol Chem. 2002. PMID 12011101 · DOI
- Posse de Chaves E, Sipione S. Sphingolipids and gangliosides of the nervous system in membrane function and dysfunction. FEBS Lett. 2010. PMID 20006608 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.