AKT1 and atrial fibrillation: Akt is essential for NOX-dependent NETosis and phosphorylation of Akt is upregulated during NETosis.21 Previous studies demonstrated that elevated Ang II in AF induces cardiac remodeling, and phosphorylation of Akt is upregulated by Ang II type 1 (AT1) /receptor signaling pathway activation.22 Similarly to previous reports, we found that Ang II increased in the peripheral blood of patients with AF (Fig. 3a).