Interestingly, activation of the RISK pathway (Akt and Erk) was increased during early reperfusion in all hearts exposed to ischemia (compared to non-ischemic controls), but was not further elevated by the application of MPC, suggesting that conditioning mechanisms that are dependent on the RISK pathway are already maximally elicited under these conditions, and cannot be further stimulated by MPC. Here, AKT1 is linked to ischemia.