The cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) contains an N-terminal RNA binding domain and a C-terminal Gly-rich domain. It exhibits specific RNA-binding activity owing to its ability to bind to poly (U) even at high NaCl concentrations. CIRBP transcripts are expressed in cells such as K562, HepG2, HeLa, and T24. In all of them, the transcript and translation levels of CIRBP were increased when the culture temperature was lowered from 37 to 32 oC. CIRBP affects gene expression by facilitating translation under mild cold stress, and it may play an essential role in cold-induced suppression of cell proliferation.