Haoran Wang,1,* Xiaoqing Li,2,* Sheng Wang,3 Jun Liu,4 Ning Xie1 

1Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Geriatrics, Sir Run Run Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Traumatic Orthopedics, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Jun Liu, Email 13776698080@139.com Ning Xie, Email drnxie@163.com

Background: In recent years, the research on the occurrence and development of interleukin in intervertebral disc degeneration has been more and more extensive. The purpose of this study is to predict the future research direction or prospect by analyzing the relevant literature in this field.
Objective: Interleukin family cytokines are becoming more and more important in the research field of intervertebral disc degeneration, but all previous studies only focus on one aspect and are not comprehensive. We revealed the most influential countries and institutions in the field of interleukin, cytokine and intervertebral disc therapy. Systematic analysis of interleukin family cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration and summary of related mechanisms will help to further promote the progress of related clinical treatment.
Methods: The related articles published in 1 January 2015– 1 December 2024 were all from network science (WOS), and charts were made and analyzed by using social science statistics software package and GraphPad Prism 8 software. Using VOS viewer software and CiteSpace software, the research trend of keywords is analyzed visually.
Results: China has made the most significant contribution in this field. In addition, the research papers on IL-1 cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration are the most, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology has published the most papers. Spine is the magazine that publishes the largest number of related documents. Preclinical medicine, especially immunology, plays a key role in this field. In hot spots, the focus of research can be divided into two parts (intervertebral disc degeneration and nucleus pulposus cells; The expression of interleukin and cytokine).
Conclusion: This marks the first bibliometric analysis in this field and provides a comprehensive literature overview. Our findings clarify the future research direction and various cooperative relationships. Targeted therapy for interleukin and cytokine may be an important development trend in the future.

Keywords: intervertebral disc degeneration, interleukin, cytokine, bibliometrics, targeted therapeutic