Myeloblasts

Myeloblasts are immature cells that develop into white blood cells in the bone marrow. They are part of the myeloid lineage, which includes monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets. Myeloblasts are characterized by a large nucleus and a small amount of cytoplasm. They are produced in response to infections or inflammation, and their numbers can increase dramatically in certain diseases, such as leukemia.

Structure and Function

Myeloblasts are large cells, approximately 20 micrometers in diameter, with a round or oval nucleus. The nucleus is often eccentrically located and contains several prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm is basophilic and contains few granules.

Myeloblasts differentiate into promyelocytes, which further differentiate into myelocytes, metamyelocytes, band cells, and finally mature granulocytes. This process is regulated by various growth factors and cytokines, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin-3 (IL-3).

Clinical Significance

An increase in the number of myeloblasts in the blood or bone marrow can be a sign of a myeloproliferative disorder, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In AML, the myeloblasts fail to differentiate into mature cells and accumulate in the bone marrow, interfering with the production of normal blood cells.

A decrease in the number of myeloblasts can occur in conditions such as aplastic anemia, where the bone marrow fails to produce enough new blood cells.

See Also

• Hematopoiesis
• Leukemia
• White blood cell

References

Myeloblasts Resources
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