Archaeometric researches on the provenance of Mediterranean Archaic Phoenician and Punic pottery

The aim of this study is to setup a first chemical database that could represent the starting point for a reliable classification method to discriminate between Archaic Phoenician and Punic pottery on the base of their chemical data. This database up to now can discriminate between several different areas of production and provenance and can be applied also to unknown ceramic samples of comparable age and production areas. More than 100 ceramic fragments were involved in this research, coming from various archaeological sites having a crucial importance in the context of the Phoenician and Punic settlement in central and western Mediterranean: Carthage (Tunisia), Toscanos (South Andalusia, Spain), Sulci, Monte Sirai, Othoca, Tharros (Sardinia, Italy) and Pithecusa (Campania, Italy). Since long-time archaeologists hypothesised that Mediterranean Archaic Phoenician and Punic pottery had mainly a local or just a regional diffusion, with the exception of some particular class like transport amphorae. To verify the pottery provenance, statistical analyses were carried out to define the existence of different ceramic compositional groups characterised by a local origin or imported from other sites. The existing literature data are now supplemented by new archaeometric investigations both on Archaic Phoenician ceramics and clayey raw materials from Sardinia. Therefore, diffractometric analyses, optical microscopy observations and X-ray fluorescence analyses were performed to identify the mineralogical and chemical composition of Othoca ceramics and clayey raw material. The obtained results were then compared with own literature data concerning Phoenician and Punic pottery in order to find features related to the different ceramic productions and their provenance. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were also performed on the chemical compositional data in order to discriminate ceramic groups. A very complex situation was found: imported ceramics coming from Carthage, with a large-scale distribution, were found together with a predominant local production pottery. The archaeometric results demonstrate that historical and typological approach has to be supported by scientific analyses to better understand local or Mediterranean exchanges.

UbcH10 expression in human lymphomas

AIMS

The UbcH10 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme plays a key role in regulating mitosis completion. We have previously reported that UbcH10 overexpression is associated with aggressive thyroid, ovarian and breast carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate UbcH10 expression in human lymphomas.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cell lines and tissue samples of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were screened for UbcH10 expression at transcriptional and translational levels. UbcH10 expression was related to the grade of malignancy. In fact, it was low in indolent tumours and high in a variety of HL and NHL cell lines and in aggressive lymphomas. It was highest in Burkitt's lymphoma, as shown by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and by tissue microarray immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry of cell lines confirmed that UbcH10 expression is cell-cycle dependent, steadily increasing in S phase, peaking in G(2)/M phase and dramatically decreasing in G(0)/G(1) phases. We also showed that UbcH10 plays a relevant role in lymphoid cell proliferation, since blocking of its synthesis by RNA interference inhibited cell growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results indicate that UbcH10 is a novel lymphoid proliferation marker encompassing the cell cycle window associated with exit from mitosis. Its overexpression in aggressive lymphomas suggests that UbcH10 could be a therapeutic target in this setting.

Specific microRNAs are downregulated in human thyroid anaplastic carcinomas

Thyroid carcinomas comprise a broad spectrum of tumors with different clinical behaviors. On the one side, there are occult papillary carcinomas (PTC), slow growing and clinically silent, and on the other side, rapidly growing anaplastic carcinomas (ATC), which are among the most lethal human neoplasms. We have analysed the microRNA (miR) profile of ATC in comparison to the normal thyroid using a microarray (miRNACHIP microarray). By this approach, we found an aberrant miR expression profile that clearly differentiates ATC from normal thyroid tissues and from PTC analysed in previous studies. In particular, a significant decrease in miR-30d, miR-125b, miR-26a and miR-30a-5p was detected in ATC in comparison to normal thyroid tissue. These results were further confirmed by northern blots, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analyses and in situ hybridization. The overexpression of these four miRs in two human ATC-derived cell lines suggests a critical role of miR-125b and miR-26a downregulation in thyroid carcinogenesis, since a cell growth inhibition was achieved. Conversely, no effect on cell growth was observed after the overexpression of miR-30d and miR-30a-5p in the same cells. In conclusion, these data indicate a miR signature associated with ATC and suggest the miR deregulation as an important event in thyroid cell transformation.

UbcH10 expression may be a useful tool in the prognosis of ovarian carcinomas

The UbcH10 gene codes for a protein that belongs to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family. Previous studies of our group suggest UbcH10 expression as a valid indicator of the proliferative and aggressive status of thyroid carcinomas. Therefore, to better understand the process of ovarian carcinogenesis, and to look for possible tools to be used as prognostic markers in these neoplasias, we decided to extend the analysis of the UbcH10 expression to the ovarian neoplastic disease. We found that the UbcH10 gene was upregulated in some ovarian carcinoma cell lines analysed. Then, immunohistochemical studies demonstrate that UbcH10 expression significantly correlates with the tumor grade and the undifferentiated histotype of the ovarian carcinomas. Furthermore, a significant relationship between UbcH10 expression and overall survival was observed. Finally, the block of UbcH10 protein synthesis by RNA interference inhibited the growth of ovarian carcinoma cell lines, suggesting a role of UbcH10 overexpression in ovarian carcinogenesis. Therefore, all these data taken together suggest the possibility to use UbcH10 detection as a marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of these neoplastic diseases and open the perspective of a therapy of some ovarian carcinomas based on the suppression of the UbcH10 synthesis and/or function.

MicroRNA deregulation in human thyroid papillary carcinomas

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs involved in a wide range of basic processes such as cell proliferation, development, apoptosis and stress response. It has recently been found that they are also abnormally expressed in many types of human cancer. We analyzed the genome-wide miRNA expression profile in human thyroid papillary carcinomas (PTCs) using a microarray (miRNACHIP microarray) containing hundreds of human precursor and mature miRNA oligonucleotide probes. Using this approach, we found an aberrant miRNA expression profile that clearly differentiates PTCs from normal thyroid tissues. In particular, a significant increase in miRNA (miR)-221, -222 and -181b was detected in PTCs in comparison with normal thyroid tissue. These results were further confirmed by northern blot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. Moreover, RT-PCR revealed miR-221, -222 and -181b overexpression in fine needle aspiration biopsies corresponding to thyroid nodules, which were eventually diagnosed as papillary carcinomas after surgery. Finally, miR-221, -222 and -181b overexpression was also demonstrated in transformed rat thyroid cell lines and in mouse models of thyroid carcinogenesis. Functional studies, performed by blocking miR-221 function and by overexpressing miR-221 in human PTC-derived cell lines, suggest a critical role of miR-221 overexpression in thyroid carcinogenesis. In conclusion, these data, taken together, indicate an miRNA signature associated with PTCs, and suggest miRNA deregulation as an important event in thyroid cell transformation.

UbcH10 overexpression may represent a marker of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas

The hybridisation of an Affymetrix HG_U95Av2 oligonucleotide array with RNAs extracted from six human thyroid carcinoma cell lines and a normal human thyroid primary cell culture led us to the identification of the UbcH10 gene that was upregulated by 150-fold in all of the carcinoma cell lines in comparison to the primary culture cells of human normal thyroid origin. Immunohistochemical studies performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections showed abundant UbcH10 levels in thyroid anaplastic carcinoma samples, whereas no detectable UbcH10 expression was observed in normal thyroid tissues, in adenomas and goiters. Papillary and follicular carcinomas were only weakly positive. These results were further confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. The block of UbcH10 protein synthesis induced by RNA interference significantly reduced the growth rate of thyroid carcinoma cell lines. Taken together, these results would indicate that UbcH10 overexpression is involved in thyroid cell proliferation, and may represent a marker of thyroid anaplastic carcinomas.