Previous studies have demonstrated that PI3K/AKT signaling plays a critical role in the neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy, and upon activation, PI3K/AKT signaling may extend the survival period of endothelial cells and synergize with VEGF to jointly mediate cell survival and migration, which finally triggers neovascularization [43, 44]. Here, AKT1 is linked to diabetic retinopathy.