ILK, which is understood to mediate hypertrophic responses to mechanical stress, is thought to protect the heart by promoting cell survival via activation of AKT, a key regulator of oxidative stress and myocardial hypertrophy (Bettink et al., 2010; Lal et al., 2009; Sopko et al., 2011). Here, AKT1 is linked to cardiac hypertrophy.