Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is from the family of cold shock proteins that plays a protective role in the genotoxic and cold stress response. CIRBP functions as an RNA chaperone to facilitate translation and to stabilize transcripts of genes involved in cell survival. CIRP (human) is a 172-aa nuclear protein consisting of one amino-terminal consensus sequence RNA-binding domain and one carboxyl-terminal glycine-rich domain. When overexpressed, CIRP promotes assembly of stress granules (SGs). CIRP is constitutively expressed at low levels in various tissues becoming up-regulated during mild hypothermia as well as exposure to UV irradiation and hypoxia. CIRP is also found extracellularly, where it acts as a proinflammatory mediator causing deleterious effects during hemorrhagic and septic shock.