Global Research Status and Trends in Hair Follicle Stem Cells: a Bibliometric Analysis

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are derived from the bulge region and are important autologous stem cell sources. Bibliometric is a statistical method that quantitatively analyses the research papers concerned about one special topic. This study aims to estimate the research status and trends of HFSCs worldwide by bibliometric analyses.

Data were obtained from the Web of Science by searching keywords related to HFSCs. Publication distributions stratified by countries/regions, institutions, journals, and authors were systematically assessed. The frequency of keywords was assessed, and bibliometric mapping was employed to describe the development of HFSC research.

A total of 458 publications that met our screening criteria were included in this study, consisting of 423 (92.4%) articles and 35 (7.6%) reviews. The United States of America (USA) ranked first in the number of publications at 146 (31.9%), followed by China at 130 (28.4%), which is consistent with the rank of the H-index. Author keywords were classified into three clusters, namely, basic study, applied study, and biomarker; average publication time of keywords in applied study cluster is later than basic study cluster. The keywords "bulge", "nestin", and "skin" are the top three most frequent keywords in basic studies; "differentiation", "proliferation", and "alopecia" are the top three most frequent keywords in applied studies. With respect to the latest research hotspots, "apoptosis" and "tissue engineering" are relatively new keywords.

The USA and China were the most productive countries for research on HFSCs. The focus of keywords gradually shifted from basic study to applied study. Research on the differentiation/proliferation of HFSCs and the role of HFSCs in alopecia have been recent research focuses. Apoptosis and tissue engineering are recommended as promising research hotspots. Our study provides profound insights into the research history, current status, and future trend of HFSCs.