TEK and neuromyelitis optica: Since the PI3K/Akt pathway has a well-known role in angiogenesis (DeBusk et al., 2004), we hypothesized that binding of the C16 peptide to integrins activates the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 (Tie2 KI) and PI3K/Akt pathways to prevent NMO progression.