Bibliometric Analysis of Global Scientific Research on lncRNA: A Swiftly Expanding Trend.

Xiao Zhai,Xiao Chen,Jian Zhao,Ziqiang Chen,Ming Li,Qijin Wang,Gengwu Li,Yiran Wang,Yushu Bai,Xianzhao Wei,Yilin Yang

doi:10.1155/2018/7625078

Xiao Zhai, Xiao Chen + Show 9 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7625078

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Abstract

To investigate trends in long-noncoding (lnc) RNA research systematically, we compared the contribution of publications among different regions, institutions, and authors. Publications on lncRNA were retrieved from Web of Science (WoS) from 1975 to 2017. A total of 3879 papers were identified, and together they were cited 62967 times. The literature on lncRNA had been continuously growing since 2006, and the expansion might continue at a rapid pace until around 2021. China contributed the greatest proportion (63.47%) of lncRNA publications, and the USA ranked second in the number of publications (944 articles), while it had the highest citation frequency (43168 times) and H-index (97). The journal Oncotarget has the greatest number of publications on lncRNA research, with 305 papers. The keywords could be stratified into two clusters: cluster 1 (application) and cluster 2 (characteristics). Correspondingly, the “TNM stage,” “epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT),” “cell apoptosis,” and “overall survival” are research hotspots since 2015. Thus, research on lncRNA showed a swiftly expanding trend, with China making the largest contribution. The focus on lncRNA is gradually shifting from “characteristics” to “application.”

Highlights

With the technological innovation of RNA sequencing and computational prediction, the past decade has seen a rapid increase in the study of long-noncoding RNAs
It is estimated that at least 90% of RNAs transcribed by the human genome are long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) [1], and several lncRNA databases have been set up, such as lncRNAdb, NRED, lncRNA Disease, and NONCODE
The data in this article were based on the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCI-E) of the Web of Science (WoS) from 1975 to 2017, since WoS included papers from 1975

Summary

Introduction

With the technological innovation of RNA sequencing and computational prediction, the past decade has seen a rapid increase in the study of long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). It is estimated that at least 90% of RNAs transcribed by the human genome are lncRNAs [1], and several lncRNA databases have been set up, such as lncRNAdb, NRED, lncRNA Disease, and NONCODE. The NONCODE database (http://www.noncode.org/) lists 233,696 lncRNA transcripts and 144,134 lncRNA genes. LncRNA was previously considered as “junk gene” or transcriptional “noise” [2]; it is reported recently that lncRNAs might be associated with many diseases, and the number of lncRNAs with validated functions is growing exponentially. The lncRNA database (http://www.lncrnadb.org) currently lists a conservative 299 functional lncRNA genes. Several studies have reported that lncRNAs are involved in a cluster of biochemical mechanisms including regulation of gene transcription [3] and methylation [4]. LncRNAs were reported to play an important role in human diseases such as autism spectrum disorders [5] and thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm [6]

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