Expression of transforming growth factor-beta isoforms and their receptors in chronic tendinosis

Chronic tendon lesions are degenerative conditions and may represent a failure to repair or remodel the extracellular matrix after repeated micro-injury. Since TGF-beta is strongly associated with tissue repair, we investigated the expression of TGF-beta isoforms (beta1, beta2 and beta3) and their 2 signalling receptors (TGF-betaRI and TGF-betaRII) in normal and pathological Achilles tendons. In all tissues, all 3 TGF-beta isoforms and the 2 receptors were present at sites of blood vessels. Cells in the matrix showed no staining for TGF-beta1 or beta3, while TGF-beta2 was associated with cells throughout the normal cadaver tendon. Tissue from tendons with pathological lesions showed an increase in cell numbers and percentage TGF-beta2 expression. TGF-betaRII showed a wide distribution in cells throughout the tissue sections. As with TGF-beta2, there was an increase in the number of cells expressing TGF-betaRII in pathological tissue. TGF-betaRI was restricted to blood vessels and was absent from the fibrillar matrix. We conclude that despite the presence and upregulation of TGF-beta2, TGF-beta signalling is not propagated due to the lack of TGF-betaRI. This might explain why chronic tendon lesions fail to resolve and suggests that the addition of exogenous TGF-beta will have little effect on chronic tendinopathy.