Myeloblast vs. Lymphoblast

Main Difference

The main difference between myeloblast and lymphoblast is that myeloblast is an immature blood cell, present in the bone marrow that gives rise to the growth of white blood cells of the granulocytic via an intermediary stage that is known as a myelocyte. Whereas lymphoblast refers to an immature white blood cell that gives rise to an immune cell known as a lymphocyte.

Difference Between Myeloblast and Lymphoblast

Comparison Chart

Myeloblast vs. Lymphoblast

Myeloblast and lymphoblast are two types of precursor cells differentiating from the hemocytoblast during hematopoiesis. Myeloblast segregates into granulocytes whereas the lymphoblast segregates into lymphocytes. Myeloblast states to a large bone marrow cell which works as the precursor of myelocytes while lymphocyte discusses to another large bone marrow cell which functions as the precursor of lymphoblasts. The main variation between myeloblast and lymphoblast is the types of mature cell that arises from them. The nucleus of the myeloblast is either C, S or V-shaped conversely the nucleus of lymphoblast is round in shape. Myeloblast contains granules in the cytoplasm, but lymphoblast does not contain any cytoplasmic granules. Myeloblast comprises less compress chromatin while lymphoblast contains more condense chromatin. The size of a myeloblast is 20 µm in diameter, but the diameter of a lymphoblast is 15 µm. The cytoplasm is plenty and contains Auer rods in myeloblast as compare to lymphoblasts which are relatively scanty and contains agranular which is the trademark feature for identifying them in a bone marrow smear. Myeloblast nucleus contains prominent nucleoli whereas a lymphoblast nucleus contains less discrete nucleoli. The malfunctioning of myeloblast is a source of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) on the other hand the disorders of lymphoblasts can cause acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Myeloblast can differentiate into eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils but lymphoblast can differentiate into T and B lymphocytes.

What is Myeloblast?

Myeloblast is the precursor cell of granulocytes: neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils. It is unipotent and distinguishes from the multipotent hemocytoblast. The nucleus of myeloblasts is a curve in shape and small in size as compare to lymphoblast. The shape of the nucleus of a myeloblast is S, C or V-shaped. The chromatin is less condensed, and the nucleoli are more prominent in myeloblast. The cytoplasm of the myeloblast contains granules, and the diameter of a myeloblast is 20 µm. Myeloblasts undergo granulopoiesis process and develop into granulocytes. The stages involve the development into promyelocyte to myelocyte to metamyelocyte and finally into band cells called the basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils. Based on these stages, myeloblasts are also known as band cells. Myeloblasts can stain by myeloperoxidase stain. The occurrence of rods is one of the major features of myeloblast, which supports in the identification of myeloblast in a bone marrow smear.

Errors in myeloblasts cause a disease called acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) a condition in which there is a growth of immature myelocytes and gather in the peripheral blood and lead to hemopoietic failure. The symptoms of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is anemia, bleeding from orifice and frequent infections. Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) affects individuals from the elderly age group and rarely affects the younger ones.

What is Lymphoblast?

Lymphoblast refers to an immature white blood cell that gives rise to a type of immune cell known as a lymphocyte. Lymphoblast is the predecessor cell of T and B lymphocytes. It also distinguishes from hemocytoblast. The nucleus of the lymphoblast is round in shape and comprises compact chromatin. It does not contain prominent nucleoli. Cytoplasmic granules are not present in lymphoblast. The size of lymphoblasts is about 15 um in diameter. The cytoplasm is scanty and agranular in lymphoblasts which is the hallmark feature for identifying it in a bone marrow smear. Lymphoblasts undergo lymphopoiesis either into B or T lymphocytes when they are mature. They either stay in the bone marrow or migrate to the thymus gland in the chest. Lymphopoiesis is the distinction development of lymphoblast into lymphocytes. The acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the syndrome rises in illness in which the overproduction of lymphoblasts arises in the bone marrow and, causes regular infections like pneumonia, and the chances of recurrent infections are more pronouncing — the patient of acute lymphocytic leukemia experiences shortness of breath, dizziness, and weakness. Acute lymphocytic leukemia commonly affects children, due to its effects on children; mostly it is known as childhood leukemia.

Conclusion

Above this discussion, it concludes that myeloblast is an immature blood cell, present in the bone marrow that gives rise to the growth of white blood cells of the granulocytic whereas lymphoblast refers to an immature white blood cell that provides an increase in a type of immune cell known as a lymphocyte.