(English) Episode 251-AI maps rogue Achilles tendon cells

This research article introduces the BonAIr score, an innovative artificial intelligence-driven pipeline designed to standardize the histological analysis of human Achilles tendinopathy. By utilizing automated digital microscopy, the study overcomes the subjectivity and sampling bias inherent in traditional manual scoring methods like the Bonar score. The authors validated this new diagnostic tool by correlating it with cellular and molecular data, confirming that it accurately reflects pathogenetic shifts such as collagen disarray and proteoglycan deposition. Key findings highlight the expansion of CD90+ stromal cells and immune cell infiltration within the interfascicular matrix as hallmarks of the disease. Ultimately, the sources advocate for this objective framework to improve the consistency of translational research and the identification of new therapeutic targets.(Planckaert G, Burssens A, Stappers F, Coudenys J, Demolder S, Kaya I, et al. AI-driven histologic analysis of human Achilles tendinopathy provides a roadmap to unravel pathogenesis. Ann Rheum Dis [Internet]. 2025;84(5):866–76. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ard.2025.01.027)