Research dynamics and drug treatment of renal fibrosis from a mitochondrial perspective: a historical text data analysis based on bibliometrics.

Renal fibrosis (RF) represents a significant public health challenge, necessitating the urgent identification of effective and safe therapeutic agents. Mitochondrial-targeted strategies have demonstrated considerable promise in restoring renal function and mitigating fibrosis. This study aims to examine the evolution of research and therapeutic interventions for RF from a mitochondrial perspective through bibliometric analysis. Literature retrieval was primarily conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection. Visual analysis was performed utilizing the Bibliometrix package (R- 4.4.2), CiteSpace 6.3.R1, and VOSviewer 1.6.19. A total of 819 documents were included for analysis. Significant contributions were made by researchers from China and the USA, with Nanjing Medical University leading in publication volume. Zhang Aihua and Huang Songming emerge as key scholars in the field, while the International Journal of Molecular Sciences is the journal with the highest publication output. Key research themes include oxidative stress, expression, injury, activation, mechanisms, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial-targeted approaches for treating RF can be categorized into six main strategies: mitochondrial biogenesis regulators, mitochondrial dynamics modulators, mitophagy inducers, oxidative stress regulators, NLRP3 inhibitors, and other mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic approaches. This study comprehensively examines the current state of RF research from a mitochondrial standpoint, summarizing key drugs and potential mechanisms of mitochondrial regulation. The findings aim to enhance scholarly understanding of the ongoing research trends and provide valuable insights for the development of targeted therapeutic agents.