AKT2 and aortic aneurysm: For example, although Akt is frequently observed to be activated during proliferation and invasion in cancer cells, Akt1 phosphorylation (Ser473) is reduced in VSMCs in human atherosclerotic plaques [53], and reduced phospho-Akt2 levels and phospho-AKT2/total AKT ratios are seen in the media of human aortic aneurysms [54].