Inhibition of Lats1/p-YAP1 pathway mitigates neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

AIMS: To investigate the roles of Lats1/p-YAP1 pathway in TBI-induced neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits in rats. RESULTS: We found that Lats1 and YAP1 were expressed in cerebral cortex neurons of Sprague-Dawley rats, and the phosphorylation levels of Lats1 and YAP1 in injured regions were significantly increased after TBI. Furthermore, inhibition of Lats1 not only decreased the level of p-YAP1, but also attenuated neuronal apoptosis and neurological impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates that inhibition of Lats1/p-YAP1 pathway mitigates neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits in a rat model of TBI.