Microglia associated research in depression: an exploratory trends analysis

Depression is a common and highly debilitating severe affective disorder. Relevant studies have indicated that microglia are closely associated with the progression of depression. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis on the research related to microglia in depression, aiming to clarify the evolution process, research hotspots, and future research directions in this field.

Relevant publications were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The software tools CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix were employed for visual analysis.

A total of 2,305 publications on microglia in depression were included in the analysis. From 2001 to 2024, research in this area generally exhibited an upward trend. China had the largest number of research outcomes. Nantong University had the highest research output. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity was the journal with the largest number of relevant publications. Dr. Huang Chao was the most prolific author. High-frequency keywords included depression, microglia, neuroinflammation, inflammation, hippocampus, metabolism, cytokines, IL-1β, lipopolysaccharide, stress, and anxiety. Kynurenine pathway, NF-κB signaling, hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal system, and gut microbiota have emerged as active research topics in recent years.

This study provides a bibliometric perspective on microglia in depression. Research institutions from various countries have collaborated to advance this field. The neuroinflammation triggered by microglia has become an important theoretical framework for understanding the biological mechanisms of depression. Kynurenine pathway, NF-κB signaling, hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal system, and the gut microbiota may be the directions of future research.