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Figure 1. Cocultivation of CD34+ cells with platelets induces foam cell generation in vitro. CD34+ cells were coincubated with human platelets (2x108/ml) in 96-well plates for up to 10 days. After 5 days CD34+ cells underwent substantial morphological changes, with an increase in diameter to 
25 µm and high granularity. In the absence of platelets, no change in the morphology of CD34+ cells could be observed. A significant phagocytosis of LDL-laden platelets by foam cells was noted, indicated by the platelet-free halo around the CD34+ cell (circle).
