NOS3 and placental insufficiency: Since we have recently shown that epigenetic signatures at NOS3 encoding eNOS in human umbilical artery endothelial cells are substantially shaped by prenatal events such as placental insufficiency and that there exists an interdependency between NOS3 and the gene activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 alpha (STAT3α) as well as Stat3-transcription factor-binding in the NOS 3 promoter.