Exploring the relationship between intestinal immunity and obesity: A bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Metabolic Diseases
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• The relationship between intestinal immunity and obesity is a growing area of research.
• Understanding this link is crucial for developing effective obesity treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify influential researchers, institutions, and countries in intestinal immunity and obesity research.
• To map the evolution of research hotspots and themes in this field.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 3333 publications from 2004-2024.
• Data sourced from the Web of Science database.
• Analysis performed using CiteSpace, GraphPad Prism 8, Gephi, and Charticulator.

Main Results:

• The United States is a leading contributor, with Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale and University of Reading as top institutions.
• Patrice D. Cani identified as the most influential researcher.
• Research focus shifted from general pathogenesis to specific microbial metabolites and immune cells, with evolving themes in obesity and related diseases.

Conclusions:

• Research on intestinal immunity and obesity has progressed through distinct phases: expansion, stabilization, and breakthrough.
• Future research may leverage multi-omics, AI, and gene editing for targeted obesity interventions.
• Targeted modulation of intestinal immune cells or microbes presents a promising avenue for obesity treatment.