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 (554 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
Carbohydrates covalently linked to a nonsugar moiety (lipids or proteins). The major glycoconjugates are glycoproteins, glycopeptides, peptidoglycans, glycolipids, and lipopolysaccharides. (From Biochemical Nomenclature and Related Documents, 2d ed; From Principles of Biochemistry, 2d ed)
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: Glycoconjugate.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Carbohydrates
- Narrower topics
- Glycation End Products, Advanced; Glycolipids; Glycopeptides; Glycoproteins; Lipopolysaccharides
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 1,172,150 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Glycoconjugates” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 187,211 of them (16.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 346,443 records.
Reviews account for 100,389 records (8.6%) and meta-analyses for 6,552. Randomized controlled trials number 23,068 (2.0%) 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 | 346,443 |
| 2000-2009 | 302,936 |
| 2010-2019 | 335,560 |
| 2020 onward | 187,211 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 100,389 | 8.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 6,552 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 23,068 | 2.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Glycoconjugates"[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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminin β4 is required for the development of human peripheral sensory neurons | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 42690250 · DOI · PMC13615688 |
| Intestinal Epithelial MHC-II at the Interface of Microbiota, Immunity, and Inflammation | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42653276 · DOI · PMC13513351 |
| HLA-A, -B, and DR Mismatch and Outcomes After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation in the Modern Era | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42638165 · DOI · PMC13503977 |
Laminin β4 is required for the development of human peripheral sensory neurons [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides biophysical and biochemical cues necessary for cellular migration, differentiation and survival during development.
- Closing excerpt
- Together, these results identify LAMB4 as a crucial regulator of SN development and survival with clinical implications.
- 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 (176 words)
The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides biophysical and biochemical cues necessary for cellular migration, differentiation and survival during development. Laminins are major ECM proteins consisting of α, β and γ chains. However, the function of laminin β4, encoded by LAMB4, remains unknown. Using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), we characterize the role of LAMB4 in human peripheral sensory neuron (SN) biology. We found that LAMB4 is expressed during early SN specification, and it is required for SN development and survival. To assess clinical relevance, we examined familial dysautonomia (FD), a genetic disorder specifically affecting peripheral neurons. LAMB4 variants previously identified in individuals with severe FD sharply downregulated LAMB4 expression in SNs. Moreover, restoring a healthy ECM rescued the FD-related developmental phenotypes, suggesting that ECM defects contribute significantly to the etiology of FD. Finally, we showed that LAMB4/laminin β4 interacts with laminin α4 and laminin γ3 to form the previously unreported laminin-443 and is required for actin filament formation in SNs. Together, these results identify LAMB4 as a crucial regulator of SN development and survival with clinical implications.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42690250 · DOI · PMC13615688
Intestinal Epithelial MHC-II at the Interface of Microbiota, Immunity, and Inflammation [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) expression by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) has emerged as a critical mechanism regulating mucosal immune homeostasis at the interface between the intestinal microbiota, epithelial barrier, and immune system.
- Closing excerpt
- This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the molecular regulation, spatial organization, and immunological functions of epithelial MHC-II and discusses its emerging role in host-microbiota interactions, mucosal barrier homeostasis, and intestinal disease.
- 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 (135 words)
Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) expression by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) has emerged as a critical mechanism regulating mucosal immune homeostasis at the interface between the intestinal microbiota, epithelial barrier, and immune system. Beyond professional antigen-presenting cells, IEC-intrinsic MHC-II shapes CD4+ T-cell responses, influencing tolerance to commensal microorganisms, immunity to enteric pathogens, and maintenance of barrier integrity. Recent studies have revealed that epithelial MHC-II expression is dynamically regulated by cytokines, the gut microbiota, dietary factors, and microbiota-derived metabolites, linking environmental signals to local adaptive immune responses. Dysregulation of epithelial antigen presentation has been implicated in chronic intestinal inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the molecular regulation, spatial organization, and immunological functions of epithelial MHC-II and discusses its emerging role in host-microbiota interactions, mucosal barrier homeostasis, and intestinal disease.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42653276 · DOI · PMC13513351
HLA-A, -B, and DR Mismatch and Outcomes After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation in the Modern Era [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundHLA mismatch is known to impact post-transplant outcomes following kidney-alone transplantation.
- Closing excerpt
- Prioritising HLA-based matching, including HLA-DR, is therefore unlikely to improve short- or medium-term post-transplant outcomes in first-time SPK transplantation.
- 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 (243 words)
BackgroundHLA mismatch is known to impact post-transplant outcomes following kidney-alone transplantation. However, the impact on kidney outcomes in the context of simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the impact of HLA mismatch on SPK outcomes.MethodAdult SPK recipients in the UNOS STAR registry (2010-2023) were analysed. Re-transplants were excluded. Multivariable nonlinear regression models evaluated the impact of HLA mismatch on outcome.ResultsIn a cohort of 10,559 SPK recipients overall mismatch was frequent, with only 34 recipients (0.3%) having 0/0/0 mismatches across HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR. HLA-DR mismatch was not associated with pancreas or kidney graft survival at 5 years; two versus zero HLA-DR mismatches aHR = 1.015 (95% CI 0.828-1.243) for pancreas graft survival, and aHR = 0.946 (0.753-1.188) for kidney graft survival. HLA-DR mismatch was also not associated with pancreas or kidney acute rejection or 12-month eGFR. HLA-A and HLA-B mismatches also showed no association with any pancreas or kidney transplant outcomes. Three-way interaction analyses between HLA-A, B and DR demonstrated no evidence that mismatch at any locus affected outcomes, irrespective of mismatch level at the other loci.ConclusionIn first-time simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, donor-recipient HLA mismatch was not associated with pancreas or kidney graft survival, rejection, or early renal function. These findings contrast with kidney-alone transplantation and suggest that classical HLA mismatch effects may be attenuated in the contemporary SPK setting. Prioritising HLA-based matching, including HLA-DR, is therefore unlikely to improve short- or medium-term post-transplant outcomes in first-time SPK transplantation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42638165 · DOI · PMC13503977
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 Lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like model in mice: meta-analysis and systematic evaluation [4]
- Research article Exercise training mode effects on myokine expression in healthy adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Digital Interventions for Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis [6]
- Research article Glycaemic control and macrovascular and microvascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of trials investigating intensive glucose-lowering strategies in people with type 2 diabetes [7]
- Research article The Best Exercise Modality and Dose to Reduce Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review with Pairwise, Network, and Dose-Response Meta-Analyses [8]
- Research article HLA-DQA1∗05 Genotype and Immunogenicity to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [9]
References
- Saito-Diaz K, Saini T, Patel A, Dalal B, Jackson J, James C, et al.. Laminin β4 is required for the development of human peripheral sensory neurons. . 2026. PMID 42690250 · DOI · PMC13615688
- de Oliveira S, Fachi JL. Intestinal Epithelial MHC-II at the Interface of Microbiota, Immunity, and Inflammation. . 2026. PMID 42653276 · DOI · PMC13513351
- Sachdeva M, Tingle S, Kourounis G, Malik A, Thompson E, White S, et al.. HLA-A, -B, and DR Mismatch and Outcomes After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation in the Modern Era. . 2026. PMID 42638165 · DOI · PMC13503977
- Yin R, Zhang K, Li Y, Tang Z, Zheng R, Ma Y, et al.. Lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like model in mice: meta-analysis and systematic evaluation. Front Immunol. 2023. PMID 37359525 · DOI · PMC10285697
- Bettariga F, Taaffe DR, Galvão DA, Lopez P, Bishop C, Markarian AM, et al.. Exercise training mode effects on myokine expression in healthy adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2024. PMID 38604409 · DOI · PMC11336361
- Kerr D, Ahn D, Waki K, Wang J, Breznen B, Klonoff DC. Digital Interventions for Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2024. PMID 39037772 · DOI · PMC11301119
- Kunutsor SK, Balasubramanian VG, Zaccardi F, Gillies CL, Aroda VR, Seidu S, et al.. Glycaemic control and macrovascular and microvascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of trials investigating intensive glucose-lowering strategies in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. PMID 38409644 · DOI
- Liang Z, Zhang M, Wang C, Hao F, Yu Y, Tian S, et al.. The Best Exercise Modality and Dose to Reduce Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review with Pairwise, Network, and Dose-Response Meta-Analyses. Sports Med. 2024. PMID 38916824 · DOI
- Solitano V, Facciorusso A, McGovern DPB, Nguyen T, Colman RJ, Zou L, et al.. HLA-DQA1∗05 Genotype and Immunogenicity to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023. PMID 37061107 · 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.