Of note, IL-6 trans-signaling is associated with pro-inflammatory responses (such as smooth muscle proliferation, endothelial dysfunction, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production and release (8, 9)) by the activation of the Janus kinases/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3 (JAK/STAT3) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B or AKT (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathways (10). The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is endothelial dysfunction.