The expression of TGF-β, BMPs and CTGF was dysregulated at different stages of tendon disease (Table 4); the single study that compared the protein expression of these growth factors between torn, tendinopathic and healthy RC tissues reported a decreased expression of TGF-β and its receptors in the diseased tendon tissues of both chronic tendinopathy and tear [22]. Here, TGFB1 is linked to disease of the tendon.