Bibliometric Analysis of Kidney Transplantation-related Cell Therapy: Platelet-rich Plasma, Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells, and Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Aibolat S. Smagulov, Myltykbay S. Rysmakhanov, Bazylbek S. Zhakiyev, Gani Kuttymuratov, Yerlan B. Sultangereyev, Nadiar Maratovich Mussin, Daulet Yessenbayev, Zhanybek Bokebaev, Amin Tamadon

International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine, 2025

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DOI 10.61882/ijotm.2024.15.1151
Data confidence 85 high
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Abstract

Background: This bibliometric analysis systematically examines the global research landscape of cell therapy applications in kidney transplantation, with particular focus on platelet-rich plasma (PRP), mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) over a 52-year period (1971-2023). Objective: The study addresses three key research questions: (1) How has research output evolved temporally? (2) What are the dominant research themes and collaborative networks? (3) Which institutions and authors have made the most significant contributions? Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of English-language articles from Scopus and Web of Science databases using a systematic search strategy incorporating Boolean operators and wildcard terms. After applying strict inclusion criteria and removing duplicates, 1,196 relevant publications were analyzed using RStudio (v4.1.4) with the bibliometrix package and Biblioshiny web application. Analytical methods included publication trend analysis, citation metrics, co-authorship network mapping, and keyword co-occurrence visualization. Results: Our results reveal a marked increase in annual publications, with peak output occurring in 2021-2022. Leiden University Medical Center emerged as the most productive institution (57 publications), while the United States dominated country-level contributions. Network analysis identified collaborative clusters among 2,237 research institutions worldwide. Keyword analysis highlighted three major research themes: immunomodulation mechanisms (particularly for MSCs), graft survival enhancement, and stem cell differentiation potential. The top-cited works predominantly focused on MSC applications for reducing graft rejection. Conclusion: These findings provide valuable insights into the evolution of cell therapy research in kidney transplantation, demonstrating a growing scientific interest with clear translational potential. The identification of key contributors, collaborative networks, and research hotspots offers guidance for future investigations, particularly in understudied areas such as PRP applications and the development of standardized clinical protocols. This analysis serves as both a reference map of historical progress and a roadmap for future research directions in this promising therapeutic domain.