Wang Kun, Qiu Xianfeng, Fan Pan, Mao Lu, Ren Yangzhi
Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Mol Neurobiol. 2025 Jun 4. doi: 10.1007/s12035-025-05115-w.
Neuropathic pain, caused by nerve injury or dysfunction, is a complex and chronic condition with limited treatment options beyond advances in pain management. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression, play a critical role in pain modulation. The aim of this study was to identify research hotspots and trends in miRNA-related neuropathic pain studies, highlighting the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. A bibliometric analysis of 394 articles (2009-2024) retrieved from the Web of Science database was conducted, and Python was used to evaluate collaborations at the country, institutional, and individual levels, as well as keyword bursts, citation trends, and clustering. The analysis revealed a large increase in the number of publications, particularly from 2019 to 2022. China, the USA, and Germany are the leading contributors, with notable contributions from key researchers such as Zhang Yang and Su Zhen. Research is primarily focused on miRNAs in primary sensory neurons, apoptosis, bioinformatics, spinal cord injury, and biomarkers, but there are challenges that need to be addressed, including a narrow focus on specific miRNAs, isolated pathways, limited standardized evidence, and an overreliance on animal models. Future trends suggest expanding regulatory networks, analyzing interconnected pathways, standardizing protocols, and conducting clinical and human trials. This study provides researchers and clinicians a comprehensive overview of current research and future prospects in the field. Furthermore, this review can encourage clinicians to develop and improve miRNA-based therapies, offering new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain.
神经病理性疼痛由神经损伤或功能障碍引起，是一种复杂的慢性疾病，除了疼痛管理方面的进展外，治疗选择有限。微小RNA（miRNA）是调节基因表达的小型非编码RNA，在疼痛调节中起关键作用。本研究的目的是确定miRNA相关神经病理性疼痛研究的热点和趋势，突出miRNA作为诊断生物标志物和治疗靶点的潜力。对从科学网数据库检索到的394篇文章（2009 - 2024年）进行了文献计量分析，并使用Python评估国家、机构和个人层面的合作情况，以及关键词爆发、引文趋势和聚类情况。分析显示出版物数量大幅增加，尤其是在2019年至2022年期间。中国、美国和德国是主要贡献者，张扬和苏震等关键研究人员有显著贡献。研究主要集中在初级感觉神经元中的miRNA、细胞凋亡、生物信息学、脊髓损伤和生物标志物，但也存在需要解决的挑战，包括对特定miRNA的关注范围狭窄、孤立的途径、标准化证据有限以及过度依赖动物模型。未来趋势表明需要扩展调控网络、分析相互关联的途径、规范方案并开展临床和人体试验。本研究为研究人员和临床医生提供了该领域当前研究和未来前景的全面概述。此外，本综述可鼓励临床医生开发和改进基于miRNA的疗法，为神经病理性疼痛提供新的诊断和治疗策略。
