Macrophages in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Emerging Frontiers

This study systematically analyzed 1,197 articles on the role of macrophages in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) published from 2016 to 2025 using bibliometric methods based on the Web of Science Core Collection. The analysis examined publication trends, collaborative networks, research themes, and the knowledge base to elucidate the current research landscape, core research forces, and frontier evolution in this field. The number of publications peaked at 154 in 2022, while annual citations increased overall from 184 in 2016 to 9,030 in 2025, indicating active and impactful research. China ranked first in publication volume (379 articles), whereas the United States led in total citations (18,838) and international collaboration centrality. Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Karolinska Institutet were the most productive institutions, with 23 articles each. Frontiers in Immunology (impact factor = 5.9; Journal Citation Reports quartile 1) was the most productive journal. Keyword timeline clustering identified 13 major research themes, including key components of innate immunity such as neutrophil extracellular traps, dendritic cells, and Toll-like receptors, as well as adaptive immunity involving T cells, B cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. These themes also included core mechanisms such as macrophage polarization, the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and apoptotic cell clearance, along with clinical hotspots such as lupus nephritis, macrophage activation syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. The evolution of research hotspots reflects a progression from early basic mechanisms of apoptotic cell and immune complex clearance to refined regulation of cytokines, innate immunity, and adaptive immunity, and finally to studies of signaling pathway-targeted therapy, clinical management, and multicenter validation, with "pathway" and "multicenter diagnosis" standing out as current research frontiers.