Global research trends in airway epithelial cell immune responses: a bibliometric study

Airway epithelial cells (AECs) are crucial in respiratory tract. They are not only physical protective barriers, but also sensors of pathogens that release inflammatory mediators and chemokines that modulate the immune response. This study aims to explore global research trends on AECs-immune interactions via bibliometric analysis and provide immunology data to enhance understanding of AECs' role in respiratory disease immunity.

This study employed the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database to scan published data on AECs and immune responses from 2003 to 2023. The results were analyzed using bibliometric methods. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed to assess the number of articles, publication years, distribution of author countries, and thematic areas.

A total of 1,146 relevant articles were acquired. It was revealed that over the past two decades, there was a significant increase in studies focused on the relationship between AECs and immune responses. Moreover, most research topics comprised immune regulation of AECs, pathophysiology, and respiratory infections. Furthermore, most studies were from the United States, China, and European countries with universities and medical research centers being the most active research institutions.

Research on the association between AECs and immune responses is rapidly increasing globally and further investigation will increase the understanding of airway immune system regulation and the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases, thereby providing theoretical support for the development of novel therapeutic approaches and drug design.