PIK3CD and brain ischemia: For example, in animal models of brain ischemia, STX recapitulates the neuroprotective effects of E2 via engagement of the PI3K/Akt pathway, resulting in the phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK3β and other Akt targets associated with neurodegenerative responses (Lebesgue et al., 2010; Etgen et al., 2011; Inagaki et al., 2012).