Natural killer cells in preeclampsia: an overview of current research

Abstract

Background Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder endangering maternal and fetal health, often accompanied by complications such as hypertension and proteinuria. Natural killer cells are indispensable in the occurrence and development of preeclampsia. Up to now, there has been no bibliometric study on NK cells and preeclampsia. Thus, we conducted a bibliometric analysis based on a systematic literature retrieval strategy. Methods Publications related to NK cells and preeclampsia were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed databases. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were applied to analyze publication trends, collaboration networks, co-citation patterns, and research hotspots. Results The findings indicated that the prevailing research focal points in this domain predominantly encompass the maternal-fetal interface in preeclampsia, inflammatory mechanisms, immune mechanisms, and other related areas. Implantation, extracellular vesicles, and oxidative stress represent the emerging hotspots in this field in recent years. Conclusion This study has systematically summarized the future trends in preeclampsia and natural killer cells research through bibliometrics, highlighted the current research frontiers and development trends, and provided valuable references for researchers in this field.