Robert Barouki is a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Paris Descartes School of Medicine, is the Director of the Inserm Unit 1124 and Director of the Department of Clinical Metabolomics and Proteomic Biochemistry at the Necker Hospital (Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades). His main research focus is on the dioxin receptor (AhR) and specifically on what lessons can be learned from studying this receptor for the fields of health and the environment. His clinical focus is on the identification of new metabolic biomarkers for rare diseases. Above all, he has a keen interest in contributing to the coordination of research issues and in informing students and the public about the most recent scientific and public health issues.

 

Robert Barouki is a biochemist and molecular biologist who is involved in basic research in toxicology and in clinical activities in metabolic biochemistry. His main research focus during the last twenty years has been to understand the mechanisms of toxicity of environmental pollutants such as dioxin. In particular, he has studied the biological consequences following the activation of the dioxin receptor AhR. Initially, Dr. Barouki focused on the consequences of cellular stresses such as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Subsequently, he studied the effects triggered by diverse ligands of the AhR and employed, in particular, “-omics” technologies, the results of which suggested that part of AhR toxicity may be related to the disruption of endogenous functions. More recently, his main focus has been on developmentally relevant cellular effects that are disrupted by the AhR, notably the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition to cancer development, he now focuses on the effects of pollutants on adipose tissue functions both in humans and in experimental models. He has developed the concept that, by storing certain pollutants, adipose tissue displays a toxicologically protective function during acute exposure. However, the tissue then can release those pollutants, over time, and contribute to chronic toxicity. His additional projects include studies of the nervous system in rodents and in C. elegans.

As head of the Department of Clinical Metabolomics and Proteomic Biochemistry at the Necker Hospital (Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades), he has initiated and organized a shared mass spectrometry facility at the hospital. His focus is on the development of multiplex targeted proteomic and metabolomic assays, primarily in the field of metabolic diseases. His ultimate goal is to develop new diagnostic protocols that willlead to the more rapid treatment of children with rare diseases.

More recently, he has been involved in the coordination of research issues, particularly in the field of health and the environment. He has been the happy teacher of students for a long time. He has developed more recently a keen interest in informing the public about the most recent scientific concepts and how these concepts relate to and explain some very critical public health issues.

Robert won the 2018 OPECST-Inserm  prize

The OPECST-Inserm prize, awarded each year to a researcher who has distinguished himself in the field of research valorization and his ability to be in dialogue with the expectations of society and citizens’ questions about their health. (OPECST : Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Options)

Recent Publications

Articles

• Epigenetics as a mechanism linking developmental exposures to long-term toxicity.
  Barouki R, Melén E, Herceg Z, Beckers J, Chen J, Karagas M, Puga A, Xia Y, Chadwick L, Yan W, Audouze K, Slama R, Heindel J, Grandjean P, Kawamoto T, Nohara K : Environ Int, 2018
• Down-regulation of the expression of alcohol dehydrogenase 4 and CYP2E1 by the combination of α-endosulfan and dioxin in HepaRG human cells.
  Attignon EA, Distel E, Le-Grand B, Leblanc AF, Barouki R, de Oliveira E, Aggerbeck M, Blanc EB : Toxicol In Vitro, 2017
• AhR-deficiency as a cause of demyelinating disease and inflammation.
  Juricek L, Carcaud J, Pelhaitre A, Riday TT, Chevallier A, Lanzini J, Auzeil N, Laprévote O, Dumont F, Jacques S, Letourneur F, Massaad C, Agulhon C, Barouki R, Beraneck M, Coumoul X : Sci Rep, 2017
• Regulation of Aquaporin 3 Expression by the AhR Pathway Is Critical to Cell Migration.
  Bui LC, Tomkiewicz C, Pierre S, Chevallier A, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Toxicol Sci, 2015
• Determination of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Normal and Pathological Human Endometrial Biopsies and In Vitro Regulation of Gene Expression by Metals in the Ishikawa and Hec-1b Endometrial Cell Line.
  Guyot E, Solovyova Y, Tomkiewicz C, Leblanc A, Pierre S, El Balkhi S, Le Frère-Belda MA, Lecuru F, Poupon J, Barouki R, Aggerbeck M, Coumoul X : PLoS One, 2015
• Long-term outcomes in Ornithine Transcarbamylase deficiency: a series of 90 patients.
  Brassier A, Gobin S, Arnoux JB, Valayannopoulos V, Habarou F, Kossorotoff M, Servais A, Barbier V, Dubois S, Touati G, Barouki R, Lesage F, Dupic L, Bonnefont JP, Ottolenghi C, De Lonlay P : Orphanet J Rare Dis, 2015
• Contiguous mutation syndrome in the era of high-throughput sequencing.
  Langouët M, Siquier-Pernet K, Sanquer S, Bole-Feysot C, Nitschke P, Boddaert N, Munnich A, Mancini GM, Barouki R, Amiel J, Colleaux L : Mol Genet Genomic Med, 2015
• A generic methodological framework for studying single cell motility in high-throughput time-lapse data.
  Schoenauer Sebag A, Plancade S, Raulet-Tomkiewicz C, Barouki R, Vert JP, Walter T : Bioinformatics, 2015
• Health can help saving negotiation on climate change.
  Flahault A, Schütte S, Guégan JF, Pascal M, Barouki R : Lancet, 2015
• Two persistent organic pollutants which act through different xenosensors (alpha-endosulfan and 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) interact in a mixture and downregulate multiple genes involved in human hepatocyte lipid and glucose metabolism.
  Ambolet-Camoit A, Ottolenghi C, Leblanc A, Kim MJ, Letourneur F, Jacques S, Cagnard N, Guguen-Guillouzo C, Barouki R, Aggerbeck M : Biochimie, 2015
• Acute induction of uncoupling protein 1 by citrulline in cultured explants of white adipose tissue from lean and high-fat-diet-fed rats.
  Joffin N, Jaubert AM, Bamba J, Barouki R, Noirez P, Forest C : Adipocyte, 2015
• Life-Long Implications of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Stressors: New Perspectives.
  Grandjean P, Barouki R, Bellinger DC, Casteleyn L, Chadwick LH, Cordier S, Etzel RA, Gray KA, Ha EH, Junien C, Karagas M, Kawamoto T, Paige Lawrence B, Perera FP, Prins GS, Puga A, Rosenfeld CS, Sherr DH, Sly PD, Suk W, Sun Q, Toppari J, van den Hazel P, Walker CL, Heindel JJ : Endocrinology, 2015
• Hyperprolinemia in Type 2 Glutaric Aciduria and MADD-Like Profiles.
  Pontoizeau C, Habarou F, Brassier A, Veauville-Merllié A, Grisel C, Arnoux JB, Vianey-Saban C, Barouki R, Chadefaux-Vekemans B, Acquaviva C, de Lonlay P, Ottolenghi C : JIMD Rep, 2015
• Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor by carcinogenic aromatic amines and modulatory effects of their N-acetylated metabolites.
  Juricek L, Bui LC, Busi F, Pierre S, Guyot E, Lamouri A, Dupret JM, Barouki R, Coumoul X, Rodrigues-Lima F : Arch Toxicol, 2014
• Early-life prevention of non-communicable diseases.
  Balbus JM, Barouki R, Birnbaum LS, Etzel RA, Gluckman PD, Grandjean P, Hancock C, Hanson MA, Heindel JJ, Hoffman K, Jensen GK, Keeling A, Neira M, Rabadán-Diehl C, Ralston J, Tang KC : Lancet, 2013
• [Environment and health: the lessons of pesticides].
  Barouki R : Med Sci (Paris), 2013
• [Can xenobiotics accumulated in adipose tissue contribute to a carcinogenic risk?].
  Barouki R : Ann Endocrinol (Paris), 2013
• Viewing drug action as network perturbation in multiple scale systems.
  Barouki R : Drug Metabol Drug Interact, 2013
• Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent induction of liver fibrosis by dioxin.
  Pierre S, Chevallier A, Teixeira-Clerc F, Ambolet-Camoit A, Bui LC, Bats AS, Fournet JC, Fernandez-Salguero P, Aggerbeck M, Lotersztajn S, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Toxicol Sci, 2013
• Serum 2-hydroxyglutarate production in IDH1- and IDH2-mutated de novo acute myeloid leukemia: a study by the Acute Leukemia French Association group.
  Janin M, Mylonas E, Saada V, Micol JB, Renneville A, Quivoron C, Koscielny S, Scourzic L, Forget S, Pautas C, Caillot D, Preudhomme C, Dombret H, Berthon C, Barouki R, Rabier D, Auger N, Griscelli F, Chachaty E, Leclercq E, Courtier MH, Bennaceur-Griscelli A, Solary E, Bernard OA, Penard-Lacronique V, Ottolenghi C, de Botton S : J Clin Oncol, 2013
• Oculomotor deficits in aryl hydrocarbon receptor null mouse.
  Chevallier A, Mialot A, Petit JM, Fernandez-Salguero P, Barouki R, Coumoul X, Beraneck M : PLoS One, 2013
• Expression of calcineurin activity after lung transplantation: a 2-year follow-up.
  Sanquer S, Amrein C, Grenet D, Guillemain R, Philippe B, Boussaud V, Herry L, Lena C, Diouf A, Paunet M, Billaud EM, Loriaux F, Jais JP, Barouki R, Stern M : PLoS One, 2013
• Early-life prevention of non-communicable diseases
  Balbus JM, Barouki R, Birnbaum LS, Etzel RA, Gluckman PD, Grandjean P, Hancock C, Hanson MA, Heindel JJ, Hoffman K, Jensen G, Keeling A, Neira M, Rabadan-Diehl C, Ralston J, Tang KC : Lancet, 2013
• A head and neck cancer tumor response-specific gene signature for cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil induction chemotherapy fails with added taxanes.
  Tomkiewicz C, Hans S, Mucchielli MH, Agier N, Delacroix H, Marisa L, Brasnu D, Aggerbeck LP, Badoual C, Barouki R, Aggerbeck M : PLoS One, 2012
• The aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates focal adhesion sites through a non-genomic FAK/Src pathway.
  Tomkiewicz C, Herry L, Bui LC, Métayer C, Bourdeloux M, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Oncogene, 2012
• PPTOX III: environmental stressors in the developmental origins of disease--evidence and mechanisms.
  Schug TT, Barouki R, Gluckman PD, Grandjean P, Hanson M, Heindel JJ : Toxicol Sci, 2012
• The AhR twist: ligand-dependent AhR signaling and pharmaco-toxicological implications.
  Guyot E, Chevallier A, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Drug Discov Today, 2012
• Toxicological Function of Adipose Tissue: Focus on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
  La Merrill M, Emond C, Kim MJ, Antignac JP, Le Bizec B, Clément K, Birnbaum LS, Barouki R : Environ Health Perspect, 2012
• A head and neck cancer tumor response-specific gene signature for Cisplatin, 5-Fluorouracil induction chemotherapy fails with added taxanes.
  Tomkiewicz C, Hans S, Mucchielli MH, Agier N, Delacroix H, Marisa L, Brasnu D, Aggerbeck LP, Badoual C, Barouki R, Aggerbeck M : PLoS One, 2012
• The AhR regulates focal adhesion sites through a non-genomic FAK/Src pathway.
  Tomkiewicz C, Herry L, Bui L-C, Métayer C, Bourdeloux M, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Oncogene, 2012
• PPTOX III: Environmental Stressors in the Developmental Origins of Disease: Evidence and Mechanisms.
  Schug TT, Barouki R, Gluckman PD, Grandjean P, Hanson M, Heindel JJ : Toxicol Sci, 2012
• Developmental origins of non-communicable disease: implications for research and public health.
  Barouki R, Gluckman PD, Grandjean P, Hanson M, Heindel JJ : Environ Health, 2012
• The aryl hydrocarbon receptor system.
  Barouki R, Aggerbeck M, Aggerbeck L, Coumoul X : Drug Metabol Drug Interact, 2012
• A comparison of two human cell lines and two rat gonadal cell primary cultures as in vitro screening tools for aromatase modulation.
  Quignot N, Desmots S, Barouki R, Lemazurier E : Toxicol In Vitro, 2012
• Identification of a new stilbene-derived inducer of paraoxonase 1 and ligand of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor.
  Guyot E, Coumoul X, Chassé JF, Khallouki F, Savouret JF, Poirot M, Barouki R : Biochem Pharmacol, 2012
• Inflammatory pathway genes belong to major targets of persistent organic pollutants in adipose cells.
  Kim MJ, Pelloux V, Guyot E, Tordjman J, Bui LC, Chevallier A, Forest C, Benelli C, Clément K, Barouki R : Environ Health Perspect, 2012
• Characterization of endocrine-disrupting chemicals based on hormonal balance disruption in male and female adult rats.
  Quignot N, Arnaud M, Robidel F, Lecomte A, Tournier M, Cren-Olivé C, Barouki R, Lemazurier E : Reprod Toxicol, 2012
• Quantification of steroids and endocrine disrupting chemicals in rat ovaries by LC-MS/MS for reproductive toxicology assessment.
  Quignot N, Tournier M, Pouech C, Cren-Olivé C, Barouki R, Lemazurier E : Anal Bioanal Chem, 2012
• ATF4 and the integrated stress response are induced by ethanol and cytochrome P450 2E1 in human hepatocytes.
  Magne L, Blanc E, Legrand B, Lucas D, Barouki R, Rouach H, Garlatti M : J Hepatol, 2011
• Fate and complex pathogenic effects of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in obese subjects before and after drastic weight loss.
  Kim MJ, Marchand P, Henegar C, Antignac JP, Alili R, Poitou C, Bouillot JL, Basdevant A, Le Bizec B, Barouki R, Clément K : Environ Health Perspect, 2011
• Cell migration and metastasis markers as targets of environmental pollutants and the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
  Barouki R, Coumoul X : Cell Adh Migr, 2010
• Persistent induction of cytochrome P4501A1 in human hepatoma cells by 3-methylcholanthrene: evidence for sustained transcriptional activation of the CYP1A1 promoter.
  Fazili IS, Jiang W, Wang L, Felix EA, Khatlani T, Coumoul X, Barouki R, Moorthy B : J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2010
• 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin counteracts the p53 response to a genotoxicant by upregulating expression of the metastasis marker agr2 in the hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2.
  Ambolet-Camoit A, Bui LC, Pierre S, Chevallier A, Marchand A, Coumoul X, Garlatti M, Andreau K, Barouki R, Aggerbeck M : Toxicol Sci, 2010
• Butyrate elicits a metabolic switch in human colon cancer cells by targeting the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
  Blouin JM, Penot G, Collinet M, Nacfer M, Forest C, Laurent-Puig P, Coumoul X, Barouki R, Benelli C, Bortoli S : Int J Cancer, 2010
• Induction of the Ras activator Son of Sevenless 1 by environmental pollutants mediates their effects on cellular proliferation.
  Pierre S, Bats AS, Chevallier A, Bui LC, Ambolet-Camoit A, Garlatti M, Aggerbeck M, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Biochem Pharmacol, 2010
• Characterisation of a human liver cystathionine beta synthase mRNA sequence corresponding to the c.[833T>C;844_845ins68] mutation in CBS gene.
  Chassé JF, Barouki R : Mol Cell Biochem, 2009
• Nedd9/Hef1/Cas-L mediates the effects of environmental pollutants on cell migration and plasticity
  Bui LC, Tomkiewicz C, Chevallier A, Pierre S, Bats AS, Mota S, Raingeaud J, Pierre J, Diry M, Transy C, Garlatti M, Barouki R, Coumoul X : Oncogene, 2009
• Hypoxia down-regulates CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha expression in breast cancer cells.
  Seifeddine R, Dreiem A, Blanc E, Fulchignoni-Lataud MC, Le Frère Belda MA, Lecuru F, Mayi TH, Mazure N, Favaudon V, Massaad C, Barouki R, Massaad-Massade L : Cancer Res, 2008
• Stabilization of IGFBP-1 mRNA by ethanol in hepatoma cells involves the JNK pathway.
  Magne L, Blanc E, Marchand A, Fafournoux P, Barouki R, Rouach H, Garlatti M : J Hepatol, 2007
• Cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase, a new partner in adipocyte glyceroneogenesis and an atypical target of thiazolidinedione.
  Tordjman J, Leroyer S, Chauvet G, Quette J, Chauvet C, Tomkiewicz C, Chapron C, Barouki R, Forest C, Aggerbeck M, Antoine B : J Biol Chem, 2007
• Cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides increase macrophage CD36 gene expression via PPARalpha.
  Jedidi I, Couturier M, Thérond P, Gardès-Albert M, Legrand A, Barouki R, Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Aggerbeck M : Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2006
• Opposite regulation of the rat and human cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase genes by fibrates.
  Tomkiewicz C, Muzeau F, Edgar AD, Barouki R, Aggerbeck M : Biochem Pharmacol, 2004
• Determination of interleukin-4-responsive region in the human cytochrome P450 2E1 gene promoter.
  Abdel-Razzak Z, Garlatti M, Aggerbeck M, Barouki R : Biochem Pharmacol, 2004
• Mouse liver paraoxonase-1 gene expression is downregulated in hyperhomocysteinemia.
  Janel N, Robert K, Chabert C, Ledru A, Gouédard C, Barouki R, Delabar JM, Chassé JF : Thromb Haemost, 2004

Robert Barouki