According to the distinct upregulation of IL-17A in human early-stage tendinopathy, subsequent experiments focused on IL-17A and explored the regulation of the selected inflammatory IL-17A pathway signature genes, NFKBIZ (transcription factor NFKB inhibitor zeta), ZC3H12A (transcription factor Zinc Finger CCCH-Type Containing 12A), IL-6 (cytokine interleukin 6), CXCL1 (chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 1) and MMP3 (matrix metalloprotease 3) following IL-17A and TNF-α stimulation of healthy tendon-derived cells. Here, MMP3 is linked to disease of the tendon.