Mapping the evolving trend of research on efferocytosis: a comprehensive data-mining-based study.

Abstract

Background: Efferocytosis, the process by which apoptotic cells are recognized and removed by phagocytes, plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and modulating inflammatory responses. Over recent decades, an increasing number of studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms and clinical implications of efferocytosis. This bibliometric analysis aims to map the evolving trends, identify key contributors, and outline emerging research themes in this field.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in Web of Science database, to collect literature related to efferocytosis from 2006 to 2024. The dataset was analyzed using several tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Analyses included evaluation of publication trends, citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, and co-cited references. Key metrics such as the most prolific authors, top contributing countries, and major research clusters were identified to understand the field's evolution and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Results: The final dataset comprised 1549 scholarly works, consisting of 1166 original research articles and 383 review papers. The analysis revealed a steady increase in the number of publications concerning efferocytosis, particularly in the past decade. Geographically, China and the United States emerged as dominant contributors, representing over 64.4% of total publications. Among institutions, Harvard University demonstrated the highest research output in this field. Keyword analysis demonstrated the current research focus including molecular mechanisms and signaling regulation of efferocytosis, macrophage polarization and inflammatory modulation, pathological implications and therapeutic potential of efferocytosis in diseases. Inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and COPD are diseases that has received the most attention in this field. Several research topics including nanoparticle, neuroinflammation, fibrosis, immunometabolism, exosomes, apoptotic bodies, mesenchymal stem cells, aging, microglia, reactive oxygen species, CD47, lipid metabolism, immunotherapy, mitochondria, ferroptosis, may have great potential to be hot topics in the near future. Gene-focused investigations identified TNF, MERTK, IL10, LI6, and IL1b as the most extensively studied genetic elements in efferocytosis research.

Conclusions: This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving research landscape in efferocytosis. These insights not only highlight the current milestones but also serve as a valuable guide for future research and policy-making aimed at harnessing efferocytosis for therapeutic innovations.