Erratum

In the original article by Li, et al., entitled „The Spleen Promotes the Secretion of CCL2 and Supports an M1 Dominant Phenotype in Hepatic Macrophages During Liver Fibrosis“ [Cell Physiol Biochem 2018;51(2):557-574, DOI: 10.1159/000495276], Figure 3D contains a misplaced figure and Fig. 6 some wrong labels. The correct Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 are displayed below.
The authors confirm that all of the results and conclusions of the article remain unchanged, as well as the figure legends.

The authors sincerely apologize for this mistake.

Fig. 3. Splenic macrophages promote hepatic macrophage CCL2 secretion via the upregulation of SOCS3 signaling. (A) Hepatic and splenic macrophages were isolated from fibrotic or healthy control rats and cultured ex vivo. Hepatic macrophages were stimulated with conditioned medium derived from splenic macrophages. After stimulation, CCL2 mRNA and protein levels were measured by qPCR and ELISA, respectively. (B) Livers were sectioned and SOCS3 and CD68 co-staining was examined using immunofluorescence. Magnification: ×630 scale bar: 10 µm. (C) SOCS3 mRNA and protein levels were measured by qPCR and western blotting, respectively. (D) Hepatic macrophages were stimulated with conditioned medium from splenic macrophages transfected with SOCS3-specific or scrambled siRNA. SOCS3 and CCL2 mRNA levels were determined by qPCR. Statistics: two-way ANOVA (A,C,D: n = 5; B: n = 10). *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001, Ctrl SpMφ-CM group vs. CCl₄ SpMφ-CM group, Spx group vs. Sham group, or SOCS-siR group vs. scrambled siR group. #P<0.05, ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001, ####P<0.0001, Ctrl group vs. CCl₄ i.p. group. Abbreviations: HMφ, hepatic macrophage; SpMφ, splenic macrophage; CM, conditioned medium.

Fig. 6. Fibrotic donor splenocyte transfer to splenectomized recipients partially restores the M1-dominant hepatic macrophage phenotype and promotes fibrosis. (A) Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced fibrotic rats underwent splenectomy or sham operation 24 h after the eighth CCl₄ injection, and received donor splenocytes with the administration of CCL2-neutralizing antibody or isotype control 72 h after Spx or sham operation, and euthanized 72 h after the last (12th) injection of CCl₄. The percentages and absolute numbers of hepatic monocytes/macrophages (CD45⁺CD68⁺) were analyzed. The percentage of M1-like (CD68⁺CD86⁺) and M2-like (CD68⁺CD163⁺) macrophages and the ratio of M1 to M2 were determined. (B) Liver sections were stained with Sirius red and the proportion of fibrotic areas in liver sections quantified. Magnification: ×50; scale bar: 200 µm. Statistics: two-way ANOVA (n = 5 in each group). *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001, anti-CCL2 group vs. isotype group. #P<0.05, ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001, ####P<0.0001, Ctrl- or CCl₄-Sp Tr vs. PBS. Abbreviations: Sp-Tr, adoptive transfer of splenocytes; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.