Myeloblasts are precursors to specific types of white blood cells that help your body fight infections. Too many myeloblasts may be a sign of a blood cancer like leukemia.
Myeloblasts, or blast cells, are immature white blood cells produced by cells in the bone marrow — the soft, spongy material at the center of your bones.
Myeloblasts form from stem cells and mature into white blood cells called granulocytes. These white blood cells help your body fight off infections.
It’s typical to have a small number of myeloblasts in your bone marrow. But having too many myeloblasts in the bone marrow or bloodstream can be a sign of cancers like acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
What do myeloblasts do?
Myeloblasts are immature blood cells that develop in the bone marrow . They don’t have a function on their own but are precursors to specialized white blood cells called granulocytes.
Granulocytes have a life span of just 1 to 3 days , and your body continuously produces new ones from stem cells in the bone marrow. Granulocytes contain granules that show up as spots under the microscope. Granulocytes are categorized based on the size and color of their granules. The three main types are:
When these cells mature, your body releases them into the bloodstream where they help protect against infections from viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Granulocytes are usually the first cells to arrive at an infection site.
What’s the difference between myeloblasts and lymphoblasts?
Myeloblasts and lymphoblasts are both immature blood cells, but they mature into different types of white blood cells. Myeloblasts mature into white blood cells called granulocytes. Lymphoblasts mature into white blood cells called lymphocytes , which include B cells and T cells .
The process of creating blood cells is called hematopoiesis , and it takes place in the bone marrow.
Your bone marrow contains immature cells known as hematopoietic stem cells. These cells develop into other types of cells depending on the type of cell your body needs at any point in time.
The cell maturation process happens in many stages, and the pattern of cell division that occurs during maturation is called a lineage. The maturation of white blood cell lineages is a complex process. In general:
- A hematopoietic stem cell creates two types of specialized cells: myeloid stem cells and lymphoid stem cells.
- A myeloid stem cell can then develop into several other types of cells, including myeloblasts, while a lymphoid stem cell matures into a lymphoblast.
- Myeloblasts then mature into white blood cells called granulocytes. Lymphoblasts mature into white blood cells called B cells or T cells.
What is the difference between myelocytes and myeloblasts?
Both myelocytes and myeloblasts are stages in the development of mature white blood cells called granulocytes. The myeloblast stage comes first. The myeloblast then develops into a promyelocyte, which then turns into a myelocyte.
There are three types of myelocytes: neutrophilic, basophilic, and eosinophilic. These give rise to mature white blood cells called granulocytes, which include neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils.
What does a high level of myeloblasts indicate?
A complete blood count can provide doctors with a myeloblast count.
Normally, less than 5% of the cells in your bone marrow at any one time are myeloblasts. Healthy people don’t have any myeloblasts in their bloodstream. Pregnant people may have immature granulocytes in their bloodstream, but this is a healthy bone marrow response to the pregnancy.
Too many myeloblasts can interfere with your body’s ability to make healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. High levels of myeloblasts could be a sign of cancer or a problem with the bone marrow.
High levels of myeloblasts in the bone marrow or bloodstream can be a sign of cancer, including AML and MDS.
Acute myeloid leukemia
AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that occurs when too many myeloid stem cells become myeloblasts that don’t fully develop into healthy white blood cells.
Doctors typically diagnose AML when a myeloblast count is 20% or higher .
These high levels of myeloblasts can interfere with your body’s regular production of blood cells, leading to a shortage of healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. This can cause symptoms like:
- anemia
- higher risk of infection
- easy bruising and bleeding
- fatigue
- fever
- night sweats
- loss of appetite
- feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- headaches
- pale skin
Myelodysplastic syndromes
MDS is a group of cancers that interfere with the bone marrow’s ability to make healthy blood cells.
Symptoms may include:
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- pale skin
- frequent infections
- easy bruising or bleeding
Some types of MDS may eventually transform into AML.
When to contact a doctor
Visit a doctor if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms or if you think you’re at risk of blood cancers like AML. Symptoms that warrant a visit to a doctor include:
- fatigue
- fever
- shortness of breath
- easy bleeding and bruising
- sudden weight loss
Takeaway
Myeloblasts are precursors to white blood cells known as granulocytes. Too many myeloblasts can affect your body’s ability to make healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. Very high levels of these immature cells could be a sign of blood cancer.
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