Knowledge mapping of research on the mitochondrial unfolded protein response: a bibliometric and visual analysis

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) is a mitochondria stress response, which exerts a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial proteostasis during stress. However, there is no bibliometric analyses systematically studied this field which could comprehensively review research trends, evaluate publication performances and provide future perspectives.

Articles investigating UPR^mt published between 1994 and 2021 were downloaded from the Core Collection of the Web of Science (WOS). CiteSpace and VOSviewer bibliometric software were applied for bibliometric and visual analyses.

A total of 2,073 papers researching UPR^mt were retrieved. According to the published number of papers, the field of UPR^mt research has gone through its infancy (after 2000) and rapid growth (after 2021) phases. The United States and China contributed the most to UPR^mt research. Regarding the distribution of institutions, Harvard University was the most influential institution. The most prolific authors are Johan Auwerx and CM Haynes. PLoS One is the most extensive journal in the field of UPR^mt research, while the Cell Death and Differentiation journal had the greatest impact among the most-authored journals. Moreover, biochemistry/molecular biology, and cell biology are the largest subject areas. UPR^mt research is mainly categorized as UPR^mt, transcription, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lipotoxicity, mitophagy, inflammation, skeletal muscle, hypoxia, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurodegeneration, mitochondrial permeability transition, and integrated stress response.

At present, research on UPR^mt is booming. Further strengthening the cooperation and exchanges between countries, institutions, and authors in the future will surely promote the development of this field.