Abstract
Background
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmented skin disease that severely impairs the patients’ quality of life. In recent years, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have become a research hotspot in vitiligo treatment. However, systematic trend analysis and visualization of research mapping in this field are lacking. This study seeks to characterize the evolution of JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo from 2015 to 2025.
Methods
A search was conducted in the Web of Science focusing on JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo from 2015 to 2025, including Article and Review Article in English, on March 1, 2026. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, and Microsoft Excel 2021 were used for the bibliometric analysis and visualization. Meanwhile, the verification was conducted using the PubMed database.
Results
A total of 268 publications appeared in this research area over the 2015–2025 period. Most of them originated from the United States and China. The most influential contributor was Harris John E. with the highest co-citation count. Frontiers in Immunology was the leading journal by publication volume. According to keyword burst detection, tofacitinib and chemokine-related research have emerged as the latest focal points. These findings highlight JAK inhibitor therapy as a promising direction for future therapeutic development.
Conclusion
This article summarizes the current research landscape and emerging advances in JAK inhibitors therapy for vitiligo. JAK inhibitor research in vitiligo has undergone a paradigm shift from non-specific immunosuppression to targeted blockade of the IFN-γ-CXCL9/10 inflammatory axis, providing a valuable reference for future research in this field.
Keywords: vitiligo, JAK inhibitors, bibliometrics, ruxolitinib, JAK-STAT pathway, inflammatory signaling
Introduction
Vitiligo is an acquired autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by white patches.1 Approximately 1% of the global population suffers from it.2 It imposes psychological and social burdens on patients, particularly when involving prominent body areas.3 Its pathogenesis is driven by genetic background, immune response, microenvironment factors, and neural factors.4,5 The traditional treatment methods have adverse effects and limited outcomes for refractory vitiligo. Topical corticosteroid therapy may lead to local skin side effects such as telangiectasia and skin thinning, phototherapy carries the risk of photo-damage, and systemic corticosteroid treatment is associated with common steroid-related metabolic adverse effects. There is a lack of effective treatment that can reliably alleviate depigmentation, promote repigmentation, and prevent recurrence.6
As a targeted therapeutic approach, the clinical application of JAK inhibitors and related combination therapies can help mitigate these risks to some extent. The key mechanism underlying vitiligo is excessive immune activation, in which cytotoxic T cells are overly activated against melanocytes.7 The JAK-signal transducers and transcription activators (STAT) pathway is a key axis in T-cell signal transduction. Driven by IFN-γ, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway can induce chemokines such as CXCL10, thereby promoting the aggregation of cytotoxic T cells dependent on CXCR3, and ultimately inducing the melanocytes apoptosis. JAK inhibitors suppress STAT protein phosphorylation, thereby reducing melanocytes destruction and promoting repigmentation.8–10 In JAK inhibitors treatment for vitiligo, the topical agent Ruxolitinib has been approved by the FDA. Both oral and topical Tofacitinib are undergoing open-label pilot studies and case series.11–13 Other JAK inhibitors with therapeutic potential include oral Upadacitinib, Povorcitinib, Ritlecitinib, Baricitinib and topical agents Ivarmacitinib, Cerdulatinib, Ifidancitinib, Delgocitinib.14 For clinical applications, limitations exist with JAK inhibitors treatment, including the risk of relapse upon drug discontinuation or during maintenance therapy, as well as unsatisfactory efficacy as monotherapy, necessitating combination with surgery or concomitant medications.
Current studies on JAK inhibitors for treating vitiligo primarily focus on single-drug efficacy, mechanisms exploration, or clinical applications. This field currently lacks a systematic synthesis of its overall research landscape, the evolution of hotspots, and emerging frontier trends. Bibliometrics is an effective tool for evaluating academic research, identifying research hotspots, and predicting development trends. Software such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer can visualize literature data into knowledge graphs for intuitive presentation, helping researchers quickly grasp the overall picture and development trajectory.
From 2015 to 2025, a bibliometric analysis was performed on the literature concerning JAK inhibitors for vitiligo treatment. It aims to clarify publication trends and core research forces in this field, identify hot research topics, predict future directions, and provide a reference for clinical practice and research topic selection.
Methods
Data Sources and Retrieval Strategies
Web of Science Core Collection is a citation-based database covering extensive scientific literature across diverse disciplines,15 most commonly utilized for statistical analysis.16 With the Web of Science Core Collection serving as the data source, search restrictions were set as (“vitiligo”) AND (“Janus kinase inhibitor*” OR “JAK inhibitor*” OR “ruxolitinib” OR “upadacitinib” OR “tofacitinib” OR “baricitinib” OR “abrocitinib” OR “povorcitinib” OR “JAK”). A total of 416 records were obtained on March 1, 2026. Using data from 2015 to 2025, literature categories were constrained to “Article” and “Review Article”, with language limited to English. After screening, 268 English publications were output, and the complete records of all search results were exported in plain text format. Duplicates were manually checked and none were identified. To ensure data reliability, two authors independently verified all extracted information and no discrepancies were identified. The screening results table and the data export process were shown in the following figure(Figure 1 and Table 1).
Figure 1.
Process of obtaining data.
Table 1.
Eligibility Criteria for Study Inclusion
| Classification | Defined Normative Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| Academic database | Web of Science core collection |
| Citation index | All |
| Searching timeframe | 2015–2025 |
| Language | “English” |
| Topic for searching | (“vitiligo”) AND (“Janus kinase inhibitor*” OR “JAK inhibitor*” OR “ruxolitinib” OR “upadacitinib” OR “tofacitinib” OR “baricitinib” OR “abrocitinib” OR “povorcitinib” OR “JAK”) |
| Literature types | “Article” OR “Review Article” |
| Subject classifications | All |
| Data acquisition | Full records and cited references in plain text format |
| Retrieved records | 268 |
To validate the robustness of our Web of Science-based findings, we performed a supplementary search in PubMed using an identical search strategy: (“vitiligo”) AND (“Janus kinase inhibitor” OR “JAK inhibitor” OR “ruxolitinib” OR “upadacitinib” OR “tofacitinib” OR “baricitinib” OR “abrocitinib” OR “povorcitinib” OR “JAK”) AND (2015:2025[dp]). The search was conducted on April 5, 2026. Results were firstly limited to English-language publications. The yearly publication trend was extracted directly from the PubMed and compared with the Web of Science trend to assess consistency. Then, we secondly limited the article type to “Randomized Controlled Trial” for further analysis.
Data Analysis and Visualization Tools
In this study, multiple advanced bibliometric tools are utilized to perform data analysis and visualization, including VOSviewer (1.6.20.0), CiteSpace (6.3.1.0), Scimago Graphica (1.0.42.0), and Microsoft Excel 2021. Firstly, as a dedicated bibliometric tool, VOSviewer calculates major indicators such as publications, countries, authors, journals, and references. It produces three primary graph types: network visualization, coverage, and density visualization, facilitating identification of core thematic groups and development trends in a research field. The network visualization graph serve as the core analytical approach. Each parameter (including nation/region, affiliation, periodical, writer, and search term) corresponds to an individual node. The node size represents parameter magnitude or citation frequency, while connection lines thickness denotes inter-node association strength. CiteSpace facilitates identification of foundational knowledge structures underlying topic progress. In particular, its keyword burst detection function can highlight keywords with a sharp increase in academic interest, enabling researchers quickly locate the peaks of scientific activities and facilitating trend analysis. The thresholds for VOSviewer and CiteSpace analyses (detailed in Results) were set according to standard bibliometric practices to ensure visual clarity and analytical validity while excluding low-frequency noise. Scimago Graphica is applied for visualization analysis of national publication volumes and international cooperation. Microsoft Excel 2021 is used for basic data statistics and organization. Each tool fulfills distinct functions, collectively promoting the present study.
Results
Analysis of Annual Trend of Publication Volume
A total of 268 papers concerning JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo were obtained from the Web of Science between January 2015 and December 2025, comprising 148 articles and 120 reviews. Publication output remained in single digit (2–7) over 2015–2018, fluctuated between 12 and 17 during 2019–2021, and surged after 2022, climbing from 38 in 2023 to 64 in 2024, and 79 in 2025. Notably, 181 (67.6%) of the 268 publications were issued during 2023–2025, reflecting recent interest and advancement of the field (Figure 2).
Figure 2.
The global publishing trend of Janus kinase inhibitors for the treatment of vitiligo.
Contributions Analysis of Various Countries and Institutions
A total of 268 papers were produced by 49 countries and 506 institutions. The top ten countries with six or more publications were situated in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The United States ranked highest with 81 papers, followed by China (78), France (30), Italy (23), and India (22). The United States led in average citations per publication (43.64). Although China ranked second in total publications, its average citation frequency (13.55) was lower than several European countries with fewer total papers, such as Germany (56.20), the Netherlands (54.80) and France (26.70) (Figure 3a). This disparity might be attributed to the United States’ advantage in the original drug industry.
Figure 3.
A worldwide analysis is performed to examine the countries and institutions involved in Janus kinase inhibitor therapy for vitiligo. (a) The publication output and international influence of the top ten countries are illustrated in a chart, where circle size denotes publication volume and circle color represents international influence. (b) The interaction intensity among the top 20 countries is visualized using SCImago Graphica. The degree of international cooperation is reflected jointly by circle size (number of publications) and connecting lines (cooperative relationships). (c) A global research collaboration network for vitiligo JAK inhibitor treatment is generated via VOSviewer. In this network, each node corresponds to a country, with larger nodes indicating greater publication counts. Inter-node connections signify collaboration strength—thicker lines correspond to more frequent co-authorship. Countries sharing the same node color form closely cooperating clusters. The United States and China emerge as the central hubs of global collaboration. (d) The top ten institutions worldwide conducting research on vitiligo JAK inhibitor therapy are summarized. Here, circle size indicates publication volume, and circle color denotes citation performance.
A circular connectivity diagram was used to visualize the intersections among countries (Figure 3b). The United States occupies the core position, with the strongest cooperation intensity with China. China follows behind as the most significant cooperation hub outside the United States. An analysis of international research cooperation revealed that the United States and China represent two core forces in global research collaboration. European countries formed a dense cooperation cluster, and the overall cooperation pattern exhibits a multipolar structure centered on North America, East Asia, and Europe (Figure 3c).
Among institutions, the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group had the highest total link strength (262), indicating the most extensive cooperation network or the strongest collaboration intensity with other institutions. The University of Bordeaux produced the most research outputs (12 papers), while the University of Massachusetts achieved the highest citation frequency (1088 times) (Figure 3d).
Author and Co-Cited Author Analysis
1252 authors have contributed to publications on JAK inhibitor-based vitiligo therapy. 18 authors published no fewer than 5 papers. The most prolific author was Ezzedine Khaled, with 19 papers. The highest citation frequency was achieved by Harris John E., who achieved 1063 total citations across 11 papers. Harris John E. had the highest average citations per paper (96.64), followed by Grimes Pearl (79.6) and Butler Kathleen (76.8), underscoring the academic impact (Figure 4a).
Figure 4.
A global analysis is conducted to examine the authors and co‑authors involved in Janus kinase inhibitor therapy for vitiligo. (a) The plate chart presents both the publication output and citation counts of individual authors. (b) The network map and (c) the overlay map illustrate the interaction patterns among authors. In these visualizations, node size corresponds to the number of publications, connecting lines indicate collaborative relationships, and color shading reflects the publication timeframe of each author’s associated research. (d) The density map displays the interaction among co‑cited authors. Here, darker colors denote higher citation frequencies, while the size and spatial distribution of the circles represent the extent of collaboration between authors.
Author collaborations with five or more publications were visualized using VOSviewer, revealing three clusters. Ezzedine Khaled occupies a central position and maintains close collaborations with several scholars, including Harris John E., Seneschal Julien, and Rosmarin David (Figure 4b). Ezzedine Khaled’s research was primarily concentrated during 2023–2024, demonstrating an advantage in timeliness (Figure 4c).
A total of 7306 co-cited authors were identified. The most frequently co-cited author was Ezzedine Khaled (191 times), followed by Rosmarin David (175 times), and Harris John E. and Richmond Jillian M (both 144 times) (Figure 4d).
Analysis of Journals and Co-Cited Journals
Studies on JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo appeared in 124 journals. Leading the list in terms of publication output were Frontiers in Immunology (n=16), Journal of Dermatological Treatment (n=13), and Archives of Dermatological Research (n=12). The journal with the greatest impact factor was Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (IF=11.8), followed by JAMA Dermatology (IF=11.0) (Figure 5a). Correlation visualization analysis of 25 journals with three or more publications revealed that Frontiers in Immunology, the most prolific journal, shares a strong co-citation link with the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Figure 5b). According to the time series graph, more recent work has been published in Drugs and British Journal of Dermatology, indicating a shift toward drug development and clinical translation (Figure 5b).
Figure 5.
An analysis is performed on journals and co‑cited journals in the field of vitiligo treatment using JAK inhibitors. (a) The trend chart presents the top ten journals by publication output in this research area. (b) The overlay map offers an overlay visualization and illustrates the temporal interactions among journals. (c) The trend chart displays the ten most frequently co‑cited journals within the literature. (d) The network map reveals the collaborative and citation relationships that exist between co‑cited journals. In (a and c), circle size reflects the number of citations. In (b and d), node size corresponds to publication volume, lines indicate collaborative ties, and colors denote journal categories.
A total of 2355 journals were co-cited. Two surpassed the 1000‑citation threshold: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1252 times) and Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1083 times) (Figure 5c). The top ten co-cited journals are all authoritative journals, with variations in impact factors, including Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (IF = 11.8) and JAMA Dermatology (IF = 11.0) (Figure 5c). A co-citation network was constructed based on 50 journals whose citation frequency reached a minimum of 64. This network displays three distinct clusters, with the red cluster containing high-impact journals including Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, JAMA Dermatology, and Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. The blue cluster focuses on clinical dermatology and epidemiology, whereas the green cluster focuses on basic studies related to immunity. Notable co-citation relationships exist among the British Journal of Dermatology, the Journal of Dermatological Research, and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Figure 5d).
Analysis of Highly Cited References
The past decade has seen the identification of 9677 co-cited documents. The most cited study, Ruxolitinib cream for treatment of vitiligo: randomised, controlled, Phase 2 trial by Rosmarin’s team, was cited 84 times. Published in Lancet (IF=88.5), it topped the citation list.17 The second-most cited work (80 citations) by Liu’s team in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology was published in 2017, titled Repigmentation in vitiligo using the Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib may require concurrent light exposure.13 Publications with high citation counts (≥70 citations) were predominantly published between 2014 and 2022 (Figure 6a). A visual correlation analysis of the 15 papers with ≥40 average citations was presented, revealing that the publication by Harris’ team, A mouse model of vitiligo with focused epidermal depigmentation requires IFN-γ for autoreactive CD8⁺ T-cell accumulation in the skin,18 and the study by Rashighi’ team, CXCL10 is critical for the progression and maintenance of depigmentation in a mouse model of vitiligo,19 have a significant co-cited link (Figure 6b).
Figure 6.
(a) The trend chart identifies the ten most frequently co‑cited references in the context of vitiligo treatment with Janus kinase inhibitors. (b) The network map illustrates the interrelationships among these co‑cited references. In this visualization, node size corresponds to publication volume, connecting lines indicate collaborative links, and colors represent category groupings.
Keyword Analysis
Keywords represent the essence of a paper, and co-occurrence analysis uncovers research hotspots.20 This study employed VOSviewer to examine 268 publications and build a co-occurrence network. 1019 keywords were identified through consensus, and 25 keywords with ≥20 occurrences were selected (Figure 7a). The core research topics including vitiligo, JAK inhibitors, and repigmentation, formed three color-coded clusters (green, red, blue) corresponding to separate research lines. The green cluster, focuses on vitiligo, covers pathogenesis, oxidative stress, melanocytes, phototherapy, mouse model, and expression, emphasizing the biological basis of vitiligo immune dysregulation and conventional therapies. The red cluster centers on efficacy and safety, covering tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, double-blind, efficacy, safety, alopecia-areata, and atopic dermatitis, focusing on the clinical translational value and cross-disease application potential of JAK inhibitors for vitiligo and other autoimmune skin diseases. The blue cluster, centered on JAK inhibitors, bridges the other two clusters, illustrating how this drug class acts as a core intervention across the translational pipeline from molecular mechanism discovery to targeted drug development.
Figure 7.
(a) The network map and (b) the outbreak graph present the keywords used in vitiligo treatment research with Janus kinase inhibitors. In (a), each node represents a keyword. Node size reflects the frequency of occurrence, while colors denote category groupings. In (b), red shading indicates word frequency (darker shades correspond to higher frequency), and node length represents both the importance and the temporal persistence of each keyword.
Keyword emergence analysis detects research frontiers by identifying terms with significant citation growth. The analysis indicates that 2015–2019 emergent keywords mainly centered on autoimmune diseases (plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and atopic dermatitis), with early explorations into JAK inhibitors’ therapeutic potential, alongside immune regulatory mechanisms including Janus kinase, expression, and Interferon Gamma. From 2017 to 2020, specific agents including tofacitinib and ruxolitinib emerged, shifting research focus to clinical application and efficacy evaluation. After 2020, focus shifted markedly to repigmentation, disease assessment, and chemokine regulatory networks, targeting vitiligo’s core clinical manifestations. These emergent directions constitute the current frontier of JAK inhibitor treatment research for vitiligo (Figure 7b).
Verification and Supplementary Analysis of RCTs in PubMed
The first PubMed search retrieved 359 publications. The yearly publication trend derived from PubMed closely paralleled the Web of Science trend, with a notable surge beginning in 2022. This consistency supports the robustness of our Web of Science-based conclusions regarding the rapid growth and increasing research interest in JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo.
After limiting to the “Randomized Controlled Trial” article type, a total of 15 RCTs published between 2020 and 2025 were retrieved. The first RCT, investigating ruxolitinib monotherapy, was published in 2020.17 Notably, the research focus has shifted over time. Early RCTs primarily evaluated JAK inhibitor monotherapy, whereas recent studies (2024–2025) have increasingly focused on combination therapies, including JAK inhibitors plus phototherapy. Although the main bibliometric analysis did not identify “combination” as a top keyword due to the dilution effect of early mechanistic studies (2015–2019), the RCT subset reveals a clear temporal shift from monotherapy efficacy validation to multimodal treatment optimization, suggesting that the field is entering a new phase of clinical research.
Discussion
As a chronic autoimmune condition, vitiligo is defined by depigmented patches and leukotrichia. Recently, JAK inhibitors emerged as promising agents for refractory vitiligo by inhibiting the JAK-STAT pathway in inflammatory signaling, suppressing immune-mediated melanocyte destruction and promoting repigmentation in clinical studies. This bibliometric study analyzed 268 documents from 2015 to 2025 retrieved from the Web of Science. It revealed the present situation and emerging research hotspots of JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo, which may supply key insights for future treatments.
The increase in research output appears to correlate closely with advancements in the clinical utilization of JAK inhibitors. In 2022, 1.5% ruxolitinib cream received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration as the first topical JAK inhibitor for non-localized vitiligo, stimulating considerable interest in local targeted therapy.21,22 Ruxolitinib combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy has been shown a synergistic effect in patients with an inadequate response to monotherapy.23 Baricitinib (2 mg twice daily) combined with phototherapy improves active non-segmental vitiligo with good tolerance.24 Low-dose baricitinib (2 mg/day) combined with phototherapy increases the repigmentation rate in progressive vitiligo with good safety profile.25 Based on the aforementioned clinical trial, combination therapy isemerging as a promising research direction. Compared with ruxolitinib cream alone, the addition of oral baricitinib increases the overall response rate.26 In conclusion, clinical developments have contributed to a shift in the treatment landscape for vitiligo, though the long-term efficacy and safety remain to be established in larger and longer-term trials.
From 2015 to 2025, the United States, China, France, Italy, and India have demonstrated substantial academic contributions. Among the top ten most productive institutions, six are located in the United States. The increase in research activity in China may be partially attributed to its large vitiligo population.27 Encouraging international and interinstitutional collaboration could facilitate the clinical optimization of JAK inhibitors and the further refinement of treatment strategies, while the actual impact of such collaborative efforts still requires systematic evaluation.
Among the top 10 journals, Frontiers in Immunology is the most productive, followed by the Journal of Dermatological Treatment. Ranked by 2024 Journal Impact Factor, 8 journals were in JCR Q1, 1 in Q2, and 1 in Q3. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has the highest co-citation count, suggesting its influence and relevance. JAMA Dermatology, the British Journal of Dermatology, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Lancet are also major journals. Lancet has an IF of 88.5 in 2024, reflecting its high citation metrics in general medical literature. The predominant publishing and cited journals are authoritative journals in dermatology and immunology, indicating the recognition within the clinical and scientific communities.
Ezzedine Khaled has the highest number of publications, followed by Seneschal Julien, then Harris John E. and Rosmarin David. Harris John E. has the highest citation frequency and average citation frequency per publication. His paper expounded that vitiligo was triggered by stress on melanocytes and resulted from an autoimmune process mediated by cytotoxic T cells,28 contributing to confirming the efficacy of oral ritlecitinib in treating active vitiligo.29 A phase 2 trial demonstrated that the oral upadacitinib promoted repigmentation on both face and entire body.30 A Phase 3 study demonstrated the safety of topical ruxolitinib cream among adult and adolescent populations.31 In addition, his work highlighted the psychological impact experienced by individuals with vitiligo,32 and developed the siRNA technology for JAK1 silencing.33 Ezzedine Khaled has the highest co-citations, and maintains collaborations with other researchers, dedicating to the standardization of vitiligo assessment and the research on comorbidities.34,35 He participated in validating the efficacy of the upadacitinib.36
The top ten cited references can be broadly classified into three thematic categories: basic researches on the vitiligo pathogenesis,1,18,19 clinical cases and small-scale trials of JAK inhibitors efficacy,13,37,38 and large-scale randomized controlled trials and summaries.17,21,39 Basic researches elucidated the IFN-γ-CXCL9/10-CXCR3 axis in vitiligo, providing a theoretical framework for JAK inhibitors.18,19 Bergqvist systematically summarizes the epidemiology, clinical classification, and existing treatment methods for vitiligo, offering context for understanding JAK inhibitors.39 Earlier clinical case reports suggest that oral tofacitinib or ruxolitinib can promote repigmentation on face and limbs, while recurrence is likely to occur after medication discontinuation. Combination therapy or long-term maintenance treatment may represent a more effective strategy.37,38 Tofacitinib combined with sunlight or low-dose NB-UVB induces color repigmentation.13 A Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrated that 1.5% Ruxolitinib cream was both effective and safe for facial vitiligo within the study population.17 The subsequent two phase 3 clinical trials further verified its efficacy and safety.21 At present, clinical trials of various novel JAK inhibitors including Ritlecitinib and Brepocitinib are being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials.40
Beyond JAK inhibitors, several other therapeutic strategies have garnered increasing research attention, poised to become focal points of future research. Tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells are central to vitiligo persistence and recurrence, and their survival is dependent on interleukin (IL)-15 signaling.41 Therefore, agents targeting the IL-15/CD122 axis, such as anti-CD122 antibodies, have been proposed as a potential approach to eliminate pathogenic Trm cells for durable remission.42 Regulatory T (Treg) cell dysfunction is prevalent in vitiligo. Preclinical studies have suggested that rapamycin may restore immune balance by inhibiting effector T cells and promoting Treg cell function, while IL-2-Fc muteins may selectively expand Treg cells.43 Additionally, exosomes derived from three-dimensionally cultured human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells serve as efficient miRNA delivery vehicles. By transferring specific miRNAs, they simultaneously enhance immunosuppression and protect melanocytes from oxidative stress-induced damage, requiring further in vivo validation.44,45
Adds to Inflammation Knowledge
The clinical progress of JAK inhibitors in vitiligo illustrates a broader therapeutic principle targeting a specific inflammatory axis over general immunosuppression in organ-specific autoimmunity, mirrored in psoriasis (IL-23/Th17) and atopic dermatitis (IL-4/13).46,47 Although a recent bibliometric analysis has analyzed vitiligo therapy more broadly,48 a dedicated investigation within the JAK inhibitor literature has remained relatively limited. Our bibliometric analysis, however, contributes to filling the gap and offering a focused perspective by mapping the publication landscape and collaborative networks. In interpreting our findings, we observed that several clinically relevant topics, including validated predictors of relapse, mechanistic evidence for subtype selectivity, and actionable biomarkers for individualization, appear relatively underexplored. The broader significance of this study lies in the possibility that future research may need to focus on these underexplored areas. However, such a shift remains speculative at this stage, and its realization will depend on sustained investment in basic, translational, and clinical research.
Limitation
Several methodological limitations warrant mention. Bibliometric analyses hold the descriptive nature, and lacks bedside treatment decisions as well as evidence-based clinical guidelines. First, data retrieval was confined to the Web of Science database, verified by the PubMed database. Although the Web of Science database and PubMed database are widely used in the fields of biology and medicine, they do not cover all publications, including those from Scopus-indexed studies, Embase literature, and regional publications. This may lead to certain data bias. Second, the analysis excluded non‑English publications. A third limitation is that the timeliness of the data may not be fully up‑to‑date, potentially affecting trend identification, citation influence evaluation, and collaboration analysis. In addition, the inclusion of publications from 2025 in this study may lead to incomplete citation accumulation and temporal bias, as citations require time to accumulate. Finally, the quality assessment of the incorporated literature relies upon the authors’ subjective determination. If a standardized quality evaluation tool can be established in the future, it will provide more reliable evidence for research.
Conclusion
JAK inhibitors are increasingly recognized as a viable therapeutic alternative for individuals with refractory vitiligo. Their emergence marks a transformation in vitiligo treatment from non-specific immunosuppression to targeted therapy. A grasp of current research frontiers regarding JAK inhibitor-based therapy for vitiligo is important for dermatologists. The present investigation applies bibliometric analysis to 268 publications on JAK inhibitor therapy for vitiligo from 2015 to 2025, thereby delineating the field’s research progress, emergent themes, and developmental directions. Notable emphasis is placed on the contributions from the United States and China, encompassing both their affiliated institutions and authors. Prominent journals in this field include Lancet, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, JAMA Dermatology and Frontiers in Immunology. The most frequently cited paper is “Rosmarin (2020)”, and the most commonly used keyword is “vitiligo”. Based on the bibliometric trend of this study, it suggests that with the development of selective JAK inhibitors and the completion of more high-quality clinical trials, treatment options for patients with vitiligo will probably become increasingly diverse, and the prognosis is hopeful to improve significantly. However, this inference still requires validation through future clinical studies. Future research should consider strengthening international collaboration, conduct large-scale head-to-head comparative trials, establish standardized efficacy evaluation and safety monitoring systems, and promote the continued advancement of this field.
Funding Statement
This work was supported by Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(Z210017), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (3332018025), Beijing Key Clinical Specialty Construction Project, and National Key Clinical Specialty Project of China.
Abbreviations
JAK, janus kinase; STAT, signal transducers and transcription activators; TEC, tyrosine-protein kinase; SYK, tyrosine kinase; TYK, tyrosine kinase; NB-UVB, narrowband ultraviolet B; Trm, tissue-resident memory T; IL, interleukin; Treg, regulatory T.
Data Sharing Statement
The datasets used and analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Author Contributions
Yubin Peng: Methodology, Investigation, Writing – original draft preparation, Jindi Feng: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Lu Lu: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Huimin He: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Anqi Xie: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Shiyu Zhang: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Lu Yang: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Tao Wang: Supervision, Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Yuehua Liu: Supervision, Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
Tao Wang reports support for the article from National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding (2022-PUMCH-B-092) during the conduct of the study, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets used and analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.