Unleashing the therapeutic power of verteporfin-eluting stents: modulating YAP signaling to combat carotid artery restenosis and cerebral watershed infarction.

Carotid artery stenosis is the main cause of cerebral watershed infarction (CWI). In recent years, increasing attention has been given to treating this condition. The present study aimed to investigate how Verteporfin-eluting stent (VPES) modulates the YAP signaling pathway to inhibit restenosis of the carotid artery and alleviate CWI. Through transcriptome sequencing and functional experiments, it was found that VP could regulate the Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway and effectively suppress the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Further investigation revealed that VPES could inhibit carotid artery restenosis through the YAP signaling pathway in a rabbit model, reducing the occurrence of CWI.