ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Res. Metr. Anal.
Sec. Research Assessment
Mapping the Evolution and Knowledge Structure of Lactylation Research: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis (2019-2024)
Dandan Wang 1
Tianze Chen 1
Pingping Zhang 1
Liu Gui 2
Liping Wang 3
Shuangmei Ye 4,5
Guangping Yang 1
1. Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
2. Yangzhou University Medical College, Yangzhou, China
3. Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, wuhan, China
5. Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, wuhan, China
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Abstract
Background: Since its discovery in 2019, protein lactylation has emerged as a critical link between cellularmetabolism and epigenetic regulation. However, a comprehensive analysis of the knowledge structure, collaborative patterns, and research fronts within this rapidly expanding field is lacking. This study employs bibliometrics to map the scientific landscape of lactylation research, providing data-driven insights forstrategic planning. Methods: We conducted a systematic bibliometric analysis of 523 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2019-2024). A multi-software collaborative strategy was adopted, leveraging the complementary strengths of CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R package bibliometrix forrobust and comprehensive science mapping, including co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence network analyses. Results: The field exhibits exponential growth, dominated by a Sino-American collaborative core. China leads in publication volume (n=479), while the U.S. contributes foundational, high-impact papers. Key findings include the identification of seven majorresearch themes, the pivotal role of the China-U.S. partnership in driving the paradigm shift from histone to non-histone targets, and the emergence of 'machine learning'as a key frontier. The most influential research axes were mapped to immunomodulation and metabolic reprogramming within the tumormicroenvironment. This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article Conclusion: This study provides the first holistic bibliometric profile of lactylation research, delineating its knowledge structure and dynamic trends. The findings offervaluable strategic intelligence forresearchers seeking collaborators, funding agencies prioritizing resource allocation, and policymakers fostering cross-disciplinary initiatives in this fast-evolving domain at the intersection of metabolism and epigenetics.
Summary
Keywords
Bibliometrics, CollaborativeNetworks, Emerging field, knowledge structure, lactylation, Research trends, Science mapping
Received
18 November 2025
Accepted
17 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Wang, Chen, Zhang, Gui, Wang, Ye and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Guangping Yang
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