Objective      To determine the role of interferon regulatory factor-4 binding protein (IBP) in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)

and investigate its effect on the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells.       Methods      Colon cancer HT-29 and HCT116 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1 (+)-IBP plasmid or infected with recombined shIBP lentivirus

and the stable clones were selected with G418 or puromycin. The expression of IBP and EMT-related molecules was detected in the HT-29-IBP cells and HCT116-shIBP cells by Western blotting. MTT assay was performed to investigate the effect of IBP on the proliferation

and Transwell chamber assay was carried out on the migration and invasion in colon cancer cells.       Results      Over-expression of IBP decreased the expression levels of epithelial markers

E-cadherin and ZO-1

while increased the mesenchymal marker

Fibronectin

and promoted the proliferation

migration and invasion in the HT-29-IBP cells (P0.05). However

silencing of IBP up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1

but down-regulated the levels of Fibronectin and Snail

and decreased the proliferation

migration and invasion in the HCT116-shIBP cells (P0.05).       Conclusion       IBP promotes the proliferation

migration and invasion of colon cancer cells through regulating EMT.