Immune cells in metabolic associated fatty liver disease: Global trends and hotspots (2004-2024)

The interplay between immune cells and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a critical research frontier, bridging immunology and hepatology. The bibliometric findings can guide future research and funding priorities in the field by highlighting key areas of focus and potential therapeutic targets.

To analyze the literature on immune cells and MAFLD, identifying research trends and future hotspots.

A systematic search in the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1, 2004 to May 20, 2024, yielded 1936 articles on immune cells and MAFLD. Excluding non-research documents, the data were analyzed using R packages Cluster profiler, enrichplot, ggplot2, VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Visualizations were created for countries, institutions, authors, journals, fields, co-cited references, keywords, genes, and diseases, with gene a disease data from Citexs.

The field gained momentum in 2006, with the United States of America and China as leading contributors. Key research themes included oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, liver fibrosis, and the role of Kupffer cells. Bioinformatics identified interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 as central proteins in immune responses and inflammation, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for MAFLD. Clinically, these hub genes play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of MAFLD. For instance, targeting the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway could reduce inflammation, while modulating interleukin-6 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression may improve metabolic function, offering new strategies for MAFLD therapy.

This bibliometric analysis reports on the research hotspots and emerging trends in the field of immune cells and MAFLD, highlighting key proteins and potential therapeutic strategies through bioinformatics.