Emerging trends and hotspot in gut-lung axis research from 2011 to 2021: a bibliometrics analysis

Pharmacological mechanisms of Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction in treating influenza virus-induced pneumonia: intestinal microbiota and pulmonary glycolysis

Background

Influenza virus is one of the most common pathogens that cause viral pneumonia. During pneumonia, host immune inflammation regulation involves microbiota in the intestine and glycolysis in the lung tissues. In the clinical guidelines for pneumonia treatment in China, Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction (MXSG) is a commonly prescribed traditional Chinese medicine formulation with significant efficacy, however, it remains unclear whether its specific mechanism of action is related to the regulation of intestinal microbiota structure and lung tissue glycolysis.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of MXSG in an animal model of influenza virus-induced pneumonia. Specifically, we aimed to elucidate how MXSG modulates intestinal microbiota structure and lung tissue glycolysis to exert its therapeutic effects on pneumonia.

Methods

We established a mouse model of influenza virus-induced pneumoni, and treated with MXSG. We observed changes in inflammatory cytokine levels and conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess the intestinal microbiota structure and function. Additionally, targeted metabolomics was performed to analyze lung tissue glycolytic metabolites, and Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to assess glycolysis-related enzymes, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), HIF-1a, and macrophage surface markers. Correlation analysis was conducted between the LPS and omics results to elucidate the relationship between intestinal microbiota and lung tissue glycolysis in pneumonia animals under the intervention of Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction.

Results

MXSG reduced the abundance of Gram-negative bacteria in the intestines, such as Proteobacteria and Helicobacter, leading to reduced LPS content in the serum and lungs. This intervention also suppressed HIF-1a activity and lung tissue glycolysis metabolism, decreased the number of M1-type macrophages, and increased the number of M2-type macrophages, effectively alleviating lung damage caused by influenza virus-induced pneumonia.

Conclusion

MXSG can alleviate glycolysis in lung tissue, suppress M1-type macrophage activation, promote M2-type macrophage activation, and mitigate inflammation in lung tissue. This therapeutic effect appears to be mediated by modulating gut microbiota and reducing endogenous LPS production in the intestines. This study demonstrates the therapeutic effects of MXSG on pneumonia and explores its potential mechanism, thus providing data support for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of respiratory infectious diseases.

Gut-derived immune cells and the gut-lung axis in ARDS

The gut serves as a vital immunological organ orchestrating immune responses and influencing distant mucosal sites, notably the respiratory mucosa. It is increasingly recognized as a central driver of critical illnesses, with intestinal hyperpermeability facilitating bacterial translocation, systemic inflammation, and organ damage. The "gut-lung" axis emerges as a pivotal pathway, where gut-derived injurious factors trigger acute lung injury (ALI) through the systemic circulation. Direct and indirect effects of gut microbiota significantly impact immune responses. Dysbiosis, particularly intestinal dysbiosis, termed as an imbalance of microbial species and a reduction in microbial diversity within certain bodily microbiomes, influences adaptive immune responses, including differentiating T regulatory cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which are critical in various lung inflammatory conditions. Additionally, gut and bone marrow immune cells impact pulmonary immune activity, underscoring the complex gut-lung interplay. Moreover, lung microbiota alterations are implicated in diverse gut pathologies, affecting local and systemic immune landscapes. Notably, lung dysbiosis can reciprocally influence gut microbiota composition, indicating bidirectional gut-lung communication. In this review, we investigate the pathophysiology of ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), elucidating the role of immune cells in the gut-lung axis based on recent experimental and clinical research. This exploration aims to enhance understanding of ALI/ARDS pathogenesis and to underscore the significance of gut-lung interactions in respiratory diseases.

Detailed Characterization of the Lung-Gut Microbiome Axis Reveals the Link between PD-L1 and the Microbiome in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Next-generation sequencing technologies have started a new era of respiratory tract research in recent years. Alterations in the respiratory microbiome between healthy and malignant conditions have been revealed. However, the composition of the microbiome varies among studies, even in similar medical conditions. Also, there is a lack of complete knowledge about lung-gut microbiome interactions in lung cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore the lung-gut axis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and the associations between lung-gut axis microbiota and clinical parameters (CRP, NLR, LPS, CD8, and PD-L1). Lung tissue and fecal samples were used for bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing. The results revealed, for the first time, that the bacterial richness in lung tumor tissue gradually decreased with an increase in the level of PD-L1 expression (p < 0.05). An analysis of β-diversity indicated a significant positive correlation between the genera Romboutsia and Alistipes in both the lung tumor biopsies and stool samples from NSCLC patients (p < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that NSCLC patients with higher bacterial richness in their stool samples had prolonged overall survival (HR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.025-4.17, p = 0.0426).

Children autism spectrum disorder and gut microbiota: A bibliometric and visual analysis from 2000 to 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has evolved from a narrow and rare childhood-onset disorder to a widely publicized and researched lifelong disease recognized as common and significantly heterogeneous. Researchers have suggested that gastrointestinal symptoms in ASD may be a manifestation of an underlying inflammatory process. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis of ASD and gut microbiota in children. Accordingly, this study conducts a bibliometric analysis of ASD and gut microbiota in children from 2000 to 2023, explores the current status and cutting-edge trends in the field of ASD and gut microbiota in children, and identifies new directions for future research. The literature on ASD and gut microbiota in children was screened using the Web of Science Core Collection from 2000 to 2023. Annual publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and references were visualized and analyzed using CiteSpace 5.8. R3 and VOSviewer1.6.18. This study included 1071 publications. Since the beginning of 2011, the overall number of articles shows an upward trend. The most productive country and institution are the United States and the University of California system, respectively. The most frequently cited author is Kang Dae-Wook, with 790 citations, who has contributed significantly to this field. Timothy Dinan is the most prolific author, with 34 articles. The journal with the most published articles on this topic is Nutrients, whereas PLOS One is the most cited journal. The most used keyword is "gut microbiota," and the reference for the highest outbreak intensity is Hsiao. The research hotspots and trends predicted in this study provide a reference for further in-depth research in this field.

Reversal of the detrimental effects of social isolation on ischemic cerebral injury and stroke-associated pneumonia by inhibiting small intestinal T-cell migration into the brain and lung

Social isolation (ISO) is associated with an increased risk and poor outcomes of ischemic stroke. However, the roles and mechanisms of ISO in stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) remain unclear. Adult male mice were single- or pair-housed with an ovariectomized female mouse and then subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Isolated mice were treated with the natriuretic peptide receptor A antagonist A71915 or anti-gamma-delta (γδ) TCR monoclonal antibody, whereas pair-housed mice were treated with recombinant human atrial natriuretic peptide (rhANP). Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (SDV) was performed 14 days before single- or pair-housed conditions. We found that ISO significantly worsened brain and lung injuries relative to pair housing, which was partially mediated by elevated interleukin (IL)-17A levels and the migration of small intestine-derived inflammatory γδ T-cells into the brain and lung. However, rhANP treatment or SDV could ameliorate ISO-exacerbated post-stroke brain and lung damage by reducing IL-17A levels and inhibiting the migration of inflammatory γδ T-cells into the brain and lung. Our results suggest that rhANP mitigated ISO-induced exacerbation of SAP and ischemic cerebral injury by inhibiting small intestine-derived γδ T-cell migration into the lung and brain, which could be mediated by the subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve.

The Lung Microbiome in COPD and Lung Cancer: Exploring the Potential of Metal-Based Drugs

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer 17 are two of the most prevalent and debilitating respiratory diseases worldwide, both associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. As major global health concerns, they impose a substantial burden on patients, healthcare systems, and society at large. Despite their distinct aetiologies, lung cancer and COPD share common risk factors, clinical features, and pathological pathways, which have spurred increasing research interest in their co-occurrence. One area of particular interest is the role of the lung microbiome in the development and progression of these diseases, including the transition from COPD to lung cancer. Exploring novel therapeutic strategies, such as metal-based drugs, offers a potential avenue for targeting the microbiome in these diseases to improve patient outcomes. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of the lung microbiome, with a particular emphasis on COPD and lung cancer, and to discuss the potential of metal-based drugs as a therapeutic strategy for these conditions, specifically concerning targeting the microbiome.

Bibliometric analysis of RNA vaccines for cancer

Cancer represents a challenging medical problem worldwide. Several exploratory studies have been conducted to overcome these limitations. RNA vaccines play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment. Recent studies have shown that RNA vaccines play an important role in cancer prevention. However, there are currently no relevant bibliometric studies. This study aimed to apply bibliometrics to summarize the knowledge structure and research hotspots regarding the role of RNA vaccines in cancer. Publications related to RNA vaccines in cancer were searched on the web of science core collection (WoSCC) database. VOSviewers, CiteSpace and R package "bibliometrix" were used to conduct this bibliometric analysis. A total of 1399 articles were included, comprising 803 original articles and 596 reviews. The number of studies on RNA vaccines against cancer has been increasing annually. China and the United States were the principal countries of origin of publications. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, NCI, and Duke University were the main organizations. Frontiers in Immunology is the leading journal in the field. Hot keywords included tumor antigens, lipid nanoparticles, emerging roles, and dendritic cells. This is the bibliometric study to summarize the research trends and development of RNA vaccines for cancer. This information will provide a reference for researchers studying RNA vaccines against cancer.

Depression and macrophages: A bibliometric and visual analysis from 2000 to 2022

BACKGROUND

Macrophages are closely related to the occurrence and development of depression, but there are few bibliometric studies on the role of macrophages in depression. We aim to examine the current state and frontier trends of the research on macrophages in depression from 2000 to 2022 in this study, so as to establish a new direction for follow-up research.

METHODS

The literature scan covering the period 2000 to 2022 was performed on macrophages in depression, which were analyzed with Citespace 6.1.R2 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 after manual screening, including country publications, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and references.

RESULTS

This study included 387 papers in total. There has been an increase in the number of published papers since 2009. In terms of productivity, the United States and Ohio State University are the most productive countries and institutions. The most cited author is Maes M, cited 173 times, which has made a great contribution to the study of macrophages in depression. In terms of publications, Pariante CM, Drexhage HA. have the largest number, each author with five. Brain Behavior and Immunity is the most published and cited journals. The highest burst intensity keyword is microglia, and the highest burst intensity reference is Dowlati Y, 2010.

CONCLUSION

Research hotspots and trends are analyzed and predicted in this study, which will facilitate the development of macrophage research in depression, so as to provide a reference for further research in this field.

Bibliometric analysis of IgA vasculitis nephritis in children from 2000 to 2022

Background

IgA vasculitis Nephritis (IgAVN) is a kidney-damaging disease that occurs during the course of IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and is the most serious complication of IgAV. However, there is a lack of reports of bibliometric analysis of IgAVN in children. The purpose of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of IgAVN in children from 2000 to 2022, to explore the current status and cutting-edge trends in the field of IgAVN in children, and to establish new directions for subsequent research.

Methods

Screening the literature in the field of IgAVN in children in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 2000 to 2022. Visual analysis of their annual publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and references were using CiteSpace5.8.R3 and VOSviewer1.6.18.

Results

A total of 623 publications were included in the study, since the beginning of 2014, there has been an overall increasing trend in the number of articles issued. The most prolific country and institution were China and Zhejiang University. The most frequently cited author was Coppo R, with 331 citations, who has made great contributions to IgAVN. Mao Jianhua, Lee JS and Wyatt Robert J were the most prolific authors, all with 9 articles. Pediatric Nephrology was the most published and cited journal. The highest burst strength keyword is IgA vasculitis, and the highest burst strength reference is Davin JC, 2014.

Conclusion

The research hotspots and trends predicted by the analysis of this study provide a reference for in-depth research in this field with a view to promoting the development of IgAVN research in children.