Overexpression of HSPA12B protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism

► HSPA12B protected brain from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. ► HSPA12B activated PI3K/Akt signaling in ischemic brains after cerebral I/R. ► Inhibition of PI3K abolished HSPA12B-induced protection against cerebral I/R. ► Thus, the neuroprotection of HSPA12B was mediated by PI3K/Akt activation.