Evolution patterns of posttranslational modifications in metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as the most common chronic liver disease and is a major risk factor for end-stage liver disease. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) orchestrate the pathogenesis of MAFLD by regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. This study aimed to provide a systematic, data-driven analysis of research trends and knowledge gaps in the field of PTMs in MAFLD. Literature related to PTMs in MAFLD from 2005 to 2024 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. The data were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix in R, and large language models. A total of 2401 eligible publications were included in the analysis. These publications mainly originated from 71 countries and 2732 institutions, with a 20.76% annual growth rate. China led in publication output (n= 902, 37.6%), whereas the United States recorded the greatest total number of citations (n= 31 536). In total, 15 948 authors contributed to the body of literature. Jung, Tae Woo has the most publications (n= 21) and the greatest number of total citations (n= 583). The journal Hepatology published the most articles (n= 39). Emerging research themes include "molecular docking", "ubiquitination", "N6-methyladenosine", "acetylation", "methylation", and "metabolism". A large language model reveals multifaceted mechanisms involved in MAFLD pathogenesis. This study provides insights into global collaboration patterns, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers in this field, which may establish an essential foundation for advancing the understanding of PTM-related MAFLD.