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Updated: May 28, 2026
Analyses of Proteinuria, Renal Infiltration of Leukocytes, and Renal Deposition of Proteins in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr Mice
Published on: June 8, 2022
Transitioning from invasive to liquid biopsy techniques: a bibliometric analysis and prospective insights on
Chen Liu1, Yanhao Chen1, Xiang Li1
1The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Lupus nephritis (LN) significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Although renal biopsy is the diagnostic "gold standard," its invasiveness limits ongoing disease monitoring. Recently, research has focused on non-invasive "liquid biopsy" biomarkers, especially in urine. This study uses bibliometric methods to analyze the development and trends in LN biomarker research, highlighting recent advancements and future directions.
Methods:
We collected original research articles on LN biomarkers from the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed databases from 2005 to 2024. We conducted a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix, and included 2025 studies on urinary biomarkers, renal pathology, disease activity, and long-term outcomes.
Results:
The analysis encompassed 576 articles, revealing three distinct developmental phases in the field, accompanied by a notable surge in publications since 2016. China and the United States are the top contributors, with the U.S. leading in citation impact and collaboration. The most active journal functions as a crucial repository of knowledge. Keyword and citation analysis reveal a shift from traditional immunological markers to non-invasive urinary biomarkers, such as MCP-1, NGAL, CD163, and complement-related molecules, alongside the adoption of multi-omics approaches and predictive models.
Conclusion:
Research on LN biomarkers is moving from discovery to clinical application. Advances in single-cell and spatial omics are shifting focus from peripheral biomarkers to renal molecular phenotypes, supporting "liquid biopsy" strategies. Future efforts will emphasize AI-driven multi-omics integration, minimal biomarker panels, and cross-ethnic validation to develop a precise, non-invasive LN monitoring system.
