NLRP3 Inflammasome: A New Perspective on Revealing Hotspots and Trends in Uric Acid Metabolism Disorders through Bibliometric Analysis.

Abstract

Uric acid metabolism disorders have become major health concerns, primarily causing conditions such as hyperuricemia, uric acid nephropathy, and gout. Recent research has focused on these disorders' underlying pathological mechanisms and pharmacological treatments, emphasizing the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome. This study aims to analyze and summarize the current research status, hotspots, and trends in this field from a new perspective of the NLRP3 inflammasome, providing insights for future research and disease treatment. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), this study systematically retrieved all publications related to the NLRP3 inflammasome and uric acid metabolism disorders published between 2009 and 2023. A comprehensive statistical analysis and visualization of the gathered data were conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, R-bibliometrix, Microsoft Excel, Scimago Graphica, and Pajek. A total of 585 articles from 250 journals spanning 49 countries/regions worldwide were identified, demonstrating a consistent annual increase in publications. China contributed the largest number of publications, followed by the United States and South Korea. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY emerged as the most prolific journal, while ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES boasted the highest impact factor. The current research hotspots can be broadly categorized into three themes: the molecular mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation, the pathological mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome involvement in uric acid metabolism disorders, and the development of therapeutic compounds/ drugs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, the safety of drugs targeting NLRP3 inflammasome may emerge as a significant research trend in the future. Over the past 15 years, the crucial role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in uric acid metabolism disorders has attracted considerable attention. In the foreseeable future, the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in uric acid metabolism disorders will continue to be a research focus. The development and safety of drugs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome will remain a future research trend.