The 2017-2018 Seasons at Çadır Höyük on the North Central Plateau

The Çadır Höyük mound is located in Yozgat Province, approximately 16 km from the city of Sorgun. Work commenced at the site in 1993 with an intensive surface survey, followed by excavation beginning in 1994. The deep sounding (excavated from 1994-2001) demonstrated that occupation stretches back to at least 5200 cal. BC; excavations on the mound summit indicate that occupation continued until a final abandonment perhaps in the 13th century CE. No gap in occupation of the mound over some six thousand years has been detected. The findings presented here derived from our work in three main periods represented at the site: the Late Chalcolithic exposure (ca. 3800-3500 BCE) located on the lower southern slope, the second and first millennium BCE, excavated in several areas of the site (the western slope work is presented here), and the Byzantine occupation, ca. 6th-13th centuries BCE on the mound summit, including mention of possible Roman architecture discovered in the 2018 season. The 2017 season provided some major discoveries, including three important child burials in the Late Chalcolithic area, a new gate and entryway into the Byzantine summit area, and a possible chapel. The 2018 season was devoted to further exploring these and other discoveries made in previous seasons in an attempt to solve major questions in preparation for a planned study season in 2019. By the close of the 2018 season we had achieved many of our goals; our work and interpretations are presented herein

Human rheumatoid synoviocytes express functional P2X7 receptors

10noreservedHuman type B synoviocytes are involved in joint injury during rheumatic diseases by producing inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). The increased level of purine and pirimidine nucleotides in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients could activate the large family of P2 receptors. Thus, we investigated the presence of P2 receptors in human type B synoviocytes from rheumatoid joints, also evaluating whether the P2X7 receptor is involved in IL-6 release. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression for the P2X1, P2X2, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6, P2X7, P2Y1, P2Y4, P2Y11, P2Y12, P2Y13, and P2Y14 but not the P2X3, P2Y2, and P2Y6 receptors. The expression of the P2X7 receptor was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the P2X7 receptor agonist 2'-3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)ATP (BzATP) triggered an increase in intracellular calcium, thereby suggesting the expression of functional P2 receptors, including the P2X7 receptor. Moreover, BzATP treatment upregulated both IL-6 mRNA and protein expression. Synoviocytes spontaneously released low quantities of IL-6; the incubation with BzATP induced the release of larger amounts of the cytokine, and such a release was blunted by the P2X7 antagonist oxidized ATP. The selective P2X1 and P2X3 receptor agonist alpha,beta-methylene ATP did not affect IL-6 release. Finally, BzATP failed to induce a significant uptake of the large-molecule YO-PRO, thus suggesting the lack of pore formation after P2X7 receptor stimulation. In conclusion, among the different P2 receptors expressed on human RA type B synoviocytes, the P2X7 receptor may modulate IL-6 release but not inducing changes in cell membrane permeability.mixedCaporali, F.; Capecchi, PIER LEOPOLDO; Gamberucci, Alessandra; Lazzerini, PIETRO ENEA; Pompella, G.; Natale, M.; Lorenzini, S.; Selvi, E.; Galeazzi, Mauro; LAGHI PASINI, FrancoCaporali, F.; Capecchi, PIER LEOPOLDO; Gamberucci, Alessandra; Lazzerini, PIETRO ENEA; Pompella, G.; Natale, M.; Lorenzini, S.; Selvi, E.; Galeazzi, Mauro; LAGHI PASINI, Franc