Objective   To investigate the effects of integrin beta 4 binding protein (ITGB4BP) on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.  Methods   Human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293 was transfected with blank vector plasmid pCMV-3B as the control group and plasmid pCMV-ITGB4BP as the experiment group

respectively. β-catenin expression was checked by Western blot analysis and laser confocal microscopy. After the 2 groups were cotransfected with plasmid TOPFlash containing promoter TCF/LEF and plasmid pRL-TK as the internal control

the TCF/LEF activity was analyzed by luciferase activity assay. The group transfected with no other plasmid was set as the normal group. Both the control group and the experiment group were treated with LiCl (40 mmol/L) or not in 32 h after transfection.  Results  Western blotting showed that

as compared with the normal group and the control group

β-catenin level was decreased significantly in the experiment group (P0.05)

but the level was increased significantly after treatment with LiCl (P0.05). As compared with the normal group and the control group without treated with LiCl

β-catenin level was still highly expressed in the experiment group treated with LiCl

but not increased significantly. Laser confocal microscopy showed that the expression of β-catenin (flagged with green fluorescence) was decreased compared with the control group. After treatment with LiCl

the expression of β-catenin was increased. As compared with the control group without treated with LiCl

the fluorescence intensity of β-catenin was strengthened in the experiment group treated with LiCl. Luciferase activity assay showed that

as compared with the control group

the TCF/LEF activity was reduced significantly (P0.05) in the experiment group. After treatment with LiCl

the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was strengthened significantly (P0.05). As compared with the control group without treated with LiCl

the activity of luciferase was strengthened in the experiment group treated with LiCl (P0.05).  Conclusion  ITGB4BP can downregulate the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.