Bioinformatic analysis and posterior validation with Western blot and real-time qPCR of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) obtained from GDM patients showed that Shh and the transcription factor E2F1 were significantly downregulated in cases of GDM compared with non-GDM; whereas Homeobox A9 (HOXA9) and Signal Transducer And Activator Of Transcription 1 (STAT1) were upregulated [86]. Here, E2F1 is linked to gestational diabetes.