Discrimination between human T and B lymphocytes by computer analysis of digitized data from scanning microphotometry. II. Discrimination and automated classification.

Human B and T lymphocytes were purified and stained according to the Feulgen procedure. Stained preparations were scanned on a microphotometer and the digitized images were processed by analytical programs on a computer. Features of the cells relating to the chromatin distribution were extracted. Computer algorithms automatically derive classification rules and a machine recognition of B cells and T cells results in better than 80% correct assignments. The image data reveal a rich feature structure within both the purified B and T cell populations. Each population appears to contain several subpopulations of cells with distinctive and different chromatin texture.