Mapping the Evolution of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Research (2000–2024): A Global Bibliometric and Knowledge Domain Analysis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a pivotal animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 9,435 EAE-related publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2000-2024) to map the research landscape, identify trends, and highlight emerging frontiers. The analysis reveals a shift from initial rapid growth to a stabilized output, with the USA, Germany, and China as the leading contributors. Immunology and Neurosciences form the core disciplines, with increasing integration of cell biology, microbiology, and pharmacology. Co-citation and keyword analyses demonstrate a clear evolution in research focus: while early studies centered on T-cell biology and classic neuroinflammation, recent investigations emphasize the gut-brain-immune axis, microglial/astrocyte reactivity, immunometabolism, and novel therapeutic strategies like microbiota-targeted interventions and nanomedicine. The Th17/Treg axis remains a central immunoregulatory hub. This analysis delineates the intellectual structure of the field, underscoring its progression from foundational immune mechanisms to complex, system-level understandings of neuroimmune crosstalk, and identifies promising directions for future MS therapeutic development.Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a pivotal animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 9,435 EAE-related publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2000-2024) to map the research landscape, identify trends, and highlight emerging frontiers. The analysis reveals a shift from initial rapid growth to a stabilized output, with the USA, Germany, and China as the leading contributors. Immunology and Neurosciences form the core disciplines, with increasing integration of cell biology, microbiology, and pharmacology. Co-citation and keyword analyses demonstrate a clear evolution in research focus: while early studies centered on T-cell biology and classic neuroinflammation, recent investigations emphasize the gut-brain-immune axis, microglial/astrocyte reactivity, immunometabolism, and novel therapeutic strategies like microbiota-targeted interventions and nanomedicine. The Th17/Treg axis remains a central immunoregulatory hub. This analysis delineates the intellectual structure of the field, underscoring its progression from foundational immune mechanisms to complex, system-level understandings of neuroimmune crosstalk, and identifies promising directions for future MS therapeutic development.