Advances in NLRP3 inflammasome research in viral infections: evolution, trends, and future directions

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a central innate immune sensor in virus-associated inflammation, yet the global research landscape of NLRP3 in viral infections remains unmapped. This study aimed to characterize its structure, evolution, research hotspots, and translational status.

We performed a dual-database bibliometric analysis of publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus through April 28, 2026, analyzing each database independently with cross-validation. Publication trends, collaboration networks, journal and co-citation patterns, citation bursts, keyword co-occurrence, and trend topics were examined using bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace.

Publications from WoSCC (n = 1,544) and Scopus (n = 1,495) were analyzed independently and cross-validated. Annual output rose steadily from 2009 to a peak in 2025, expanding most steeply during 2019-2022. China and the United States dominated publication output, and cumulative all-affiliation output suggests that China overtook the United States around 2021-2022 despite its lower international collaboration ratio. The most productive institutions, led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, shifted toward Chinese affiliations after 2018-2020. High-volume journals such as Frontiers in Immunology sustained routine output, whereas a small number of landmark papers in Nature dominated citation influence. Three recurrent hotspots emerged: viral triggers and NLRP3 activation mechanisms, the balance between antiviral defense and hyperinflammation, and NLRP3-associated cell death with therapeutic targeting. After 2022, trend topics shifted toward therapy, NRF2 regulation, diagnosis, and brain pathology, while clinical translation remained largely preclinical.

This study delineates the advancements in NLRP3 inflammasome research related to viral infections by systematically mapping its evolutionary trajectory, core research trends, and priority future directions. The analysis outlines the structural and collaborative landscape of the field and may inform future mechanistic investigations, cross-institutional collaborations, and clinical research.