Interleukins and large domestic animals, a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Interleukins have been well described in mice and humans. In large domestic animals the situation is drastically different and there is still a need for further researches aiming at identifying all the homologous interleukins and comparing their functions among species. We performed here a bibliometric analysis of all interleukins described in the literature in various large animal species to identify what is known so far and to underline where there is a need for new studies. Using indicators such as H index but also M quotient, A index, G index, GH ratio, and HG index we ranked 39 interleukins identified so far in bovine, caprine, equine, ovine, and porcine, the main large domestic animals. Indexes and ratio under investigations were higher for IL1, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12, and IL18 than for other interleukins, particularly in bovine and porcine species and to a certain extent in equine species. Recently discovered interleukins presented low values for the different indexes, quotient, and ratio. Even some "old" interleukins showed low values highlighting the need for further developments in comparative immunology. For instance an interleukin such as IL4 demonstrated variation in its functions between species. In conclusion, this study provides the first bibliometric analysis dedicated to large domestic animal interleukins and underlines the need for more studies to fully determine the structure and the functions of interleukins in other mammal species.

Keywords: Cell biology; Immunology; Information science; Veterinary medicine; Veterinary science.

Fig. 1

Number of articles found for all the interleukins considered in our study. Variable numbers of articles were identified for the 39 interleukins. For each interleukin, all the selected species were considered together. The search was carried out in titles and was based on specific terms listed in Tables 1 and 2. Median values +/− SD are presented.

Fig. 2

Total number of papers and first years of publication in the different species for the 9 interleukins (IL1, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, IL18) presenting the highest numbers of selected articles. For the 9 interleukins, the contribution of every species is visualized using different colours and for every single species the first year of publication of an article dealing with the interleukin is provided.

Fig. 3

Global H index for the 39 interleukins in the different species. A global H index for all the species is illustrated for every interleukins. Median values +/− SD are presented.

Fig. 4

H index, M quotient, A index, and G index in the different species for the 9 interleukins (IL1, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, IL18) presenting the highest numbers of selected articles. For the 9 interleukins, the contribution of every species is visualized using different colours.

Fig. 5

GH ratio and HG index in the different species for the 9 interleukins presenting the highest numbers of selected articles. For the 9 interleukins, the contribution of every species is visualized using different colours.