APLN and gestational diabetes: During human gestation APLN is involved in pregnancy by (i) regulation of blood pressure and angiogenesis in the preeclampsia pathophysiology; (ii) effects on plasma volume expansion in foetal growth; and (iii) regulation of glucose metabolism in the gestational diabetes pathophysiology (Malamitsi-Puchner et al. 2007; Van Mieghem et al. 2010; Yamaleyeva et al. 2015).