Christian Bréchot (born 23 July 1952) is a French

physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...

and

scientist A scientist is a person who Scientific method, researches to advance knowledge in an Branches of science, area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engag ...

who has been serving as president of the Global Virus Network (GVN) since 2017. He previously served as president of the

Institut Pasteur The Pasteur Institute (, ) is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who invented pasteurization and vaccines for anthrax and rabies. T ...

from 2013 until 2017 and as chief executive officer of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) from 2001 to 2007.

Professional career

Bréchot is specialized in

hepatitis B Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the '' hepatitis B virus'' (HBV) that affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause both acute and chronic infection. Many people have no symptoms during an initial infection. ...

and C and the mechanisms behind

liver cancer Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy, is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary in which the cancer starts in the liver, or it can be liver metastasis, or secondar ...

. He was appointed director of the Liver Cancer and Molecular Virology Inserm unit (U370) in 1993 and Head of the French National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis in 1998. In 1997, he became Head of the

Hepatology Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas as well as management of their disorders. Although traditionally considered a sub-specialty of gastroenterology, rapid expansion ...

Department at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, a position he has held until 2001. He has also been in charge of the Cell Biology Department at the Necker Faculty of Medicine until 2001. On February 14, 2001, Bréchot became CEO of

Inserm The (Inserm, ) is the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. History and organisation Inserm was created in 1964 as a successor to the French National Institute of Health. Inserm is the only public research institution ...

, taking over from Claude Griscelli. From 2008 to 2013, Christian Bréchot served as Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs at the Institut Mérieux, an umbrella organization consisting of four companies specializing in the fields of in vitro diagnostics, immunotherapy and food safety/nutrition/health, based in Boston, Lyon and Shanghai. He set up a training and research program for physicians and scientists – the Mérieux Research Grants network –, which offers large-scale, flexible funding for innovative research projects. This led him to develop an international network of prestigious researchers and scientists, especially in Asia and South America. He was also involved in training and education activities in developing and emerging countries. He developed several training programs in the fields of medicine and pure science (as part of the "École de l'Inserm"). He set up the "Inserm Avenir" grant program to help young scientists develop independent research projects. On March 8, 2013, the

announced that Bréchot had been appointed as president for a four-year term beginning on October 1, 2013, replacing Alice Dautry. The Institut Pasteur board announced on 24 January 2017 that Christian Bréchot will step down after his 4-year stint ends on 30 September 2017. Since his arrival, Bréchot's goal has been to preserve the excellence of the institute, and to develop its international presence: "We have to give ourselves the means to recreate a scientific and attractive environment, in order to attract exceptional researchers and to respond to the new public health challenges" (Le Monde).

Research

The main focus of Bréchot's research is viral

( HBV) and C ( HCV), in particular their link with

(

hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and is currently the most common cause of death in people with cirrhosis. HCC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC most common ...

, HCC), as well as the molecular mechanisms underpinning liver regeneration and

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

(especially the deregulation of the cell cycle). His work combines academic and clinical approaches in molecular virology and

cell biology Cell biology (also cellular biology or cytology) is a branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. All living organisms are made of cells. A cell is the basic unit of life that is responsible for the living an ...

. Bréchot's research has focused on the impact of HBV DNA integration and the interactions between HCV proteins and the main cell signaling pathways, such as the interferon and TGF-beta pathways, contributing to improve the understanding of the mechanisms behind liver cancer in patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection. Christian Bréchot's team of researchers has also shed light on several aspects related to cell cycle regulation, in particular through the identification of human

cyclin A Cyclin A is a member of the cyclin family, a group of proteins that function in regulating progression through the cell cycle. The stages that a cell passes through that culminate in its division and replication are collectively known as the cel ...

at the genomic insertion site of HBV in an HCC. Bréchot directed several projects that led to the development of an innovative

diagnostic test A medical test is a medical procedure performed to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disease processes, susceptibility, or to determine a course of treatment. Medical tests such as, physical and visual exams, diagnostic imaging, genetic ...

for the detection and quantification of HBV DNA in serum. His team also used laser microdissection on

liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...

sections to detect HCV RNA, analyze HCV

quasispecies The quasispecies model is a description of the process of the Darwinian evolution of certain self-replicating entities within the framework of physical chemistry. A quasispecies is a large group or "cloud" of related genotypes that exist in an env ...

and carry out liver proteomic analysis. Christian Bréchot has investigated the clinical impact of the genetic variability of HCV, his clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy of interferon-ribavirin combination

therapy A therapy or medical treatment is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. Both words, ''treatment'' and ''therapy'', are often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx. As a rule, each therapy has indications a ...

in treating HCV infections. Bréchot set up a unit in 2005 (directed by professor Didier Samuel) at the Centre hépato-biliaire (CHB) in

Villejuif Villejuif () is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Name The earliest reference to Villejuif appears in a bill signed by the Pope Callixtus II on 27 November 1119. It refers to Villa J ...

in the

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

suburbs, one of the main European

liver transplant Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is the replacement of a Liver disease, diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person (allograft). Liver transplantation is a treatment option for Cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and ...

centers. This group explored the potential of the HIP/PAP molecule, which has

mitogen A mitogen is a small bioactive protein or peptide that induces a cell to begin cell division, or enhances the rate of division (mitosis). Mitogenesis is the induction (triggering) of mitosis, typically via a mitogen. The cell cycle Mitogens a ...

ic and anti-apoptotic properties in liver cells, and demonstrated that HIP/PAP has a highly original mechanism of action: its intrinsic ROS and

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

pathway blocking properties are particularly directed at the extracellular matrix. The scientists also demonstrated the potential of

gene therapy Gene therapy is Health technology, medical technology that aims to produce a therapeutic effect through the manipulation of gene expression or through altering the biological properties of living cells. The first attempt at modifying human DNA ...

based on the use of NIS dnaC to transduce liver cancer cells, and the use of

iodide An iodide ion is I−. Compounds with iodine in formal oxidation state −1 are called iodides. In everyday life, iodide is most commonly encountered as a component of iodized salt, which many governments mandate. Worldwide, iodine deficiency ...

(131I) to treat

Other activities

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is a foundation that takes donations from public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations, to finance independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging ...

(CEPI), Member of the Scientific Advisory BoardScientific Advisory Board

(CEPI).

Prizes and awards

Bréchot is a member of several specialized French and international medical associations. He has received awards, including the

Académie Nationale de Médecine Situated at 16 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the Académie nationale de médecine (National Academy of Medicine) was created in 1820 by King Louis XVIII at the urging of baron Antoine Portal. At its inception, the institu ...

prize in 1996 and the Jean-Valade award in 2000. He was also a junior member of the

Institut universitaire de France The Institut Universitaire de France (IUF, Academic Institute of France), is a service of the French Ministry of Higher Education that annually distinguishes a small number of university professors for their research excellence, as evidenced by t ...

in 1991 for a five-year period.

Articles

#Brechot, C., Pourcel, C., Louise, A., Rain B., and Tiollais P. Presence of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in cellular DNA of human hepatocellular carcinoma. ''Nature'', 1980, 286, 533–535. #Brechot, C., Hadchouel, M., Degos, F. Lugassy, C., Thiers, V., Zafrani, S., Franco, D., Bismuth, H., Trepo, C., Benhamau, J.P., Wands, J., Isselbacher, K., Tiollais P., and Berthelot, P. Hepatitis B virus DNA in patients with chronic liver disease and negative tests for hepatitis B surface antigen. ''N. Engl. J. Med.'', 1985, 312, 270- 276. #Wang, J., Chenivesse, X., Heinglein, B., and Brechot, C. Hepatitis B virus integration in a cyclin A gene in hepatocellular carcinoma. ''Nature'', 1990, 343, 557-557. #Murphy, M., Stinnakre, M.G., Senamaud-Beaufort, C., Sweeney, C., Kubelka, M., Carrington, M., Brechot, C., and Sobczak-Thepot, J. Delayed early embryonic lethality following disruption of the murine cyclin A2 gene. ''Nature Genetics''. 1997, 15: 83–86. #Barba, G., Harper, F., Harada, T., Kohara, M., GOULINET, S., Matsuura, Y., Eder, G., Schaff, Z.S., Chapman, M.J., Miyamura, T., and Brechot, C. Hepatitis C virus core protein shows an exclusively cytoplasmic localization and associates to cellular lipid storage droplets. ''The Proceeding National Academy of Sciences'' USA. 1997, 94: 1200–1205. #Soussan, P., Garreau, F., Zylberberg, H., Ferray, C., Brechot, C., and Kremsdorf, D. In vivo expression of a new hepatitis B virus protein encoded by a spliced RNA. ''Journal of Clinical Investigation''. 2000. 105(1): 55–60. #Fontaine, H., Chaix, M-L., Lagneau, J-L., Brechot, C., Pol, S and a French multicentric study group. Recovery from chronic hepatitis C in long-term responders to ribavirin plus interferon-alpha. ''Lancet'', 2000; 356: 41. #Gordien, E., Rosmorduc, O., Peltekian, C., Garreau, F., Brechot, C., and Kremsdorf, D. Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by the interferon-inducible MxA protein. ''Journal of Virology'', 2001; 75:2684. #Perlemuter, G., Sabile, A., Letteron, P., Vona, G., Topilco, A., Samson-Bouma, M.E., Chretien, Y., Pessayre, D., Koike, K., Chapman, J., Barba, G., Brechot, C. Hepatitis C virus core protein inhibits microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity and very low density lipoprotein secretion:a model of viral-related steatosis. ''FASEB Journal''. 2002, 16:185-194. #Tralhao, G., Roudie, J., Morosan, S., Giannini, G., C., Tu, H., Goulenok, C., Carnot, F., Zavala, F., Joulin, V., Kremsdorf, D., Brechot, C. Paracrine ''in vivo'' inhibitory effects of hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein on liver cell proliferation:a new mechanism of HBx-related pathogenesis. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci U S A. 2002 May 14; 99(10): 6991–6996. doi: 10.1073/pnas.092657699 #Simon, M.-T., Pauloin, A., Normand G., Lieu H.-T., Mouly H., Pivert G., Carnot F., Trailhao J.G., Brechot C. HIP/HAP stimulates liver generation after partial hepatectomy and combines mitogenic and anti-apoptotic functions through the PKA signaling pathway. Faseb J. 2003, 17(11): 1141–50. #Faivre J, Clerc J, Gerolami R, Herve J, Longuet M, Liu B, Roux J, Moal F, Perricaudet M, Brechot C. Long-term radioiodine retention and regression of liver cancer after Sodium Iodide Symporter gene transfer in Wistar rats. ''Cancer Research''. 2004. Nov 1;64 (21): 8045.51. #Girard S, Vossman E, Misek D E, Podevin P, Hanash S, Brechot C, Beretta L. HCV NS5A-regulated gene expression and signaling revealed by microarray and comparative promoter analyses. ''Hepatology''. 2004. Oct; 40(3) 708–18. #Mancini-Bourgine M, Fontaine H, Scott-Algara D, Pol S, Brechot C, Michel ML. Induction or expansion of T-cell responses by a hepatitis B DNA vaccine administered to chronic HBV carriers. ''Hepatology'', vol 40 (4) 874–882. #Andre P., Perlemuter G., Budkowska A., Brechot C., Lotteau V. Hepatitis C virus particles and lipoprotein metabolism. ''Semin Liver Dis''. 2005, Feb 25,(1):93-104. #Murakami Y., Saigo K., Takashima H, Minami M., Okanoue T., Brechot C., Paterlini-Brechot P. Large scaled analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration in HBV related hepatocellular carcinomas. ''Gut'', 2005. Aug, 54(8):1162-8. #Pavio N, Boucreux D, Battaglia S, Arnulf B, Sobesky R, Hermine O, Brechot C. Hepatitis C virus core variants isolated from liver tumor but not from adjacent non tumor interact with Smad3 and inhibit the TGF-beta signaling. ''Oncogene''. 2005, Sept 8;24(40):6119-32. #Lieu HT., Batteux F., Simon MT., Cortes A., Nicco C., Zavala F., Pauloin A., Tralhao JG., Soubrane O., Weill B., Brechot C., Christa L. HIP/PAP accelerates liver regeneration and protects against acetaminophen injury in mice. ''Hepatology'', 2005 Sep, 42(3):618-26. #Haeffner-Cavaillon N., Graillot-Gak C., Brechot C. Automated grading of research performance clearly fails to measure up. ''Nature'', 2005, Dec 1, 438(7068):559. #Lieu HT, Simon HT, Nguyen-Khoa T, Kebede M, Cortes A, Tebar L, Smith AJ, Bayne R, Hunt SP, Brechot C, Christa L. Reg2 inactivation increases sensitivity to Fas hepatotoxicity and delays liver regeneration post-hepatectomy in mice. ''Hepatology''. 2006 Dec;44(6):1452-64. #Liu B, Herve J, Bioulac-Sage P, Valogne Y, Roux J, Yilmaz F, Boisgard R, Guettier C, Cales P, Tavitian B, Samuel D, Clerc J, Brechot C and Faivre J; Sodium iodide symporter is expressed at the preneoplastic stages of liver carcinogenesis and in human cholangiocarcinoma.. Gastroenterology. 2007 Apr;132(4):1495-503. Epub 2007 Jan 26. #Sobesky R, Feray C, Rimlinger F, Derian N, Dos Santos A, Roque-Afonso A-M, Samuel D, Brechot C and Thiers V. Distinct Hepatitis C Virus Core and F protein quasispecies in tumoral and nontumoral hepatocytes. ''Hepatology'' 2007 Dec;46(6):1704-12. #Dos Santos A, Thiers V, Sar S, Derian N, Bensalem N, Yilmaz F, Bralet MP, Ducot B, Brechot C, Demaugre F.Contribution of laser microdissection-based technology to proteomic analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma developing on cirrhosis. ''Proteomics Clin Appl''. 2007 Jun;1(6):545-54. #Faria LC, Gigou M, Roque-Afonso AM, Sebagh M, Roche B, Fallot G, Ferrari TC, Guettier C, Dussaix E, Castaing D, Brechot C, Samuel D. Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with an increased risk of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation. ''Gastroenterology''. 2008 Jun;134(7):1890-9; quiz 2155. #Herve, J., Sa Cunha, A., Liu, B., Valogne, Y., Longuet, M., Boisgard, R., Bregerie, O., Roux, J., Guettier, C., Cales, P., Tavitian, B., Samuel, D., Clerc, J., Brechot, C., Faivre, J. Internal radiotherapy of liver cancer with rat Hepatocarcinoma-Intestine-Pancreas gene as a liver tumor-specific promoter. ''Hum Gene Hum Gene Ther.'' 2008 Sep; 19(9):915-26 #Battaglia S, Benzoubir N, Nobilet S, Charneau P, Samuel D, Zignego AL, Atfi A, Brechot C, Bourgeade MF #Liver cancer-derived hepatitis C virus core proteins shift TGF-Beta responses from tumor suppression to epithelial-mesenchymal transition ''PLoS ONE''. 2009;4(2):e4355. #Dos Santos A, Court M, Thiers V, Sar S, Guettier C, Samuel D, Brechot C, Garin J, Demaugre F, Masselon CD. Identification of cellular targets in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using laser microdissection and accurate mass and time tag proteomics. ''Mol Cell Proteomics''. 2010 Sep;9(9):1991-2004. #Moniaux, N., Song, H., Darnaud, M., Garbin, K., Gigou, M., Mitchell, C., Samuel, D., Jamot, L., Amouyal, P., Amouyal, G., Brechot, C., Faivre, J. Human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatitis-associated protein cures fas-induced acute liver failure in mice by attenuating free-radical damage in injured livers. ''Hepatology''. 2011 Feb;53(2):618-27. doi: 10.1002/hep.24087 #Arumugam M, Raes J, Brechot C, Merieux A, Weissenbach J, Ehrlich SD, Bork P. Enterotypes of the human gut microbiome. ''Nature''. 2011 May 12;473(7346):174-80. #Claire Lacoste, Julie Hervé, Myriam Bou Nader, Alexandre Dos Santos, Nicolas Moniaux, Yannick Valogne, Rodrick Montjean, Olivier Dorseuil, Didier Samuel, Doris Cassio, Carla Portulano, Nancy Carrasco, Christian Bréchot, and Jamila Faivre. The iodide transporter NIS regulates cancer cell motility and invasiveness by interacting with the RhoGEF LARG. ''Cancer Research''. 2012 Nov 1;72(21):5505-15 #N. Benzoubir, C. Lejamtel, B. Testoni, S. Battaglia, B. Benassi, C. Desterke, D. Samuel, M. Levrero4, C. Bréchot and MF Bourgeade. HCV core-mediated activation of latent TGF-β via thrombospondin drives the cross-talk between hepatocytes and stromal environment. ''J Hepatol.'' 2013 Dec;59(6):1160-8.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brechot, Christian 1952 births French hepatologists Pasteur Institute Living people French healthcare chief executives Inserm people