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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Pharmacology

Mapping the intellectual landscape of lactylation research: a bibliometric analysis of global trends and emerging frontiers

  • Jieyan Wang1
  • Zhou Li2
  • Xiya Li3
  • Xiyu Liu4
  • Zhaohua Zhong4
  • Yantong Wan4
  • Hui Liang1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Urology, The Longhua Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology
  2. 2School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University
  3. 3The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
  4. 4State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Science, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University
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Abstract

Background: Lactylation is an emerging post-translational modification (PTM) that links lactate metabolism with epigenetic and protein-level regulation. The rapid expansion of this field has created a need for a systematic overview of its knowledge structure and research frontiers.

Methods: We retrieved 1,231 English articles and reviews from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus up to 7 November 2025. Excel, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix were used to analyze publication trends, collaboration networks, influential contributors, co-cited references, and keyword evolution.

Results: Annual publications and citations increased sharply after 2019. China and the United States were the two major contributors in publication output and collaboration networks. Advanced Science and Frontiers in Immunology were prominent publication venues, and authors including Xu K, Zhao YM, Huang H, and Zhang D showed high bibliometric visibility. Co-citation and keyword analyses identified two major research axes: lactylation in cancer biology, tumor immune regulation, and therapy resistance; and lactylation in metabolic reprogramming and disease-associated stress responses.

Conclusion: Lactylation research is moving from site discovery toward mechanistic studies of pathophysiological regulation. The present bibliometric map provides a quantitative framework for understanding the field, while emphasizing that current translational claims remain largely preclinical and require further mechanistic and biomarker validation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wang2026mapping,
  title = {{Mapping the intellectual landscape of lactylation research: a bibliometric analysis of global trends and emerging frontiers}},
  author = {Jieyan Wang and Zhou Li and Xiya Li and Xiyu Liu and Zhaohua Zhong and Yantong Wan and Hui Liang},
  journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1841236},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1841236/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Mapping the intellectual landscape of lactylation research: a bibliometric analysis of global trends and emerging frontiers
AU  - Jieyan Wang
AU  - Zhou Li
AU  - Xiya Li
AU  - Xiyu Liu
AU  - Zhaohua Zhong
AU  - Yantong Wan
AU  - Hui Liang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/08
JO  - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO  - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1841236
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1841236/full
AB  - Background: Lactylation is an emerging post-translational modification (PTM) that links lactate metabolism with epigenetic and protein-level regulation. The rapid expansion of this field has created a need for a systematic overview of its knowledge structure and research frontiers.  Methods: We retrieved 1,231 English articles and reviews from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus up to 7 November 2025. Excel, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix were used to analyze publication trends, collaboration networks, influential contributors, co-cited references, and keyword evolution.  Results: Annual publications and citations increased sharply after 2019. China and the United States were the two major contributors in publication output and collaboration networks. Advanced Science and Frontiers in Immunology were prominent publication venues, and authors including Xu K, Zhao YM, Huang H, and Zhang D showed high bibliometric visibility. Co-citation and keyword analyses identified two major research axes: lactylation in cancer biology, tumor immune regulation, and therapy resistance; and lactylation in metabolic reprogramming and disease-associated stress responses.  Conclusion: Lactylation research is moving from site discovery toward mechanistic studies of pathophysiological regulation. The present bibliometric map provides a quantitative framework for understanding the field, while emphasizing that current translational claims remain largely preclinical and require further mechanistic and biomarker validation.
SN  - 1663-9812
ER  -