Microglia associated research in depression: an exploratory trends analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Depression is a severe affective disorder with significant global impact.
• Microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system, are increasingly implicated in depression's progression.
• Understanding the intricate relationship between microglia and depression is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on microglia in depression.
• To identify key trends, influential publications, and emerging research hotspots in this field.
• To elucidate the evolution of research and suggest future directions for microglia-depression studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic retrieval of 2,305 publications from Scopus and Web of Science databases (2001-2024).
• Utilized CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix software for visual bibliometric analysis.
• Analyzed publication trends, country/institution contributions, prolific authors, and high-frequency keywords.

Main Results:

• Research on microglia in depression shows a consistent upward trend from 2001 to 2024.
• China leads in research output, with Nantong University and Dr. Huang Chao being highly productive.
• Key research themes include neuroinflammation, hippocampus, metabolism, cytokines (e.g., IL-1β), and stress responses.

Conclusions:

• Bibliometric analysis offers valuable insights into the field of microglia and depression.
• International collaboration is advancing research in this area.
• Neuroinflammation mediated by microglia is a central mechanism in depression, with the kynurenine pathway, NF-κB signaling, HPA axis, and gut microbiota as promising future research avenues.