IL6 and disease of the tendon: Moreover, pro-inflammatory cytokines can initiate the catabolic process after injuries, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-1 β, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), growth factors, such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) [1,14,15], and transcriptional factors, especially in the early phases of tendinopathies [16].