Selank
Selank is a regulatory heptapeptide developed as a stable analogue of tuftsin, designed to exert anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory actions in controlled research environments.
Anxiolytic Effects:
Clinical studies in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have shown that Selank significantly reduces anxiety symptoms with an efficacy comparable to low-dose benzodiazepines yet without sedation or dependency risk Swolverine+15PMC+15Wikipedia+15PMC+5creative-peptides.com+5Wikipedia+5ResearchGate+5PARTICLE, s. r. o.+5Wikipedia+5.
Neurotransmitter & Gene Modulation:
Preclinical gene expression analyses using rat frontal cortex and neural cell cultures reveal that Selank modulates mRNA levels of approximately 45 genes related to GABAergic, dopaminergic, and serotonin systems. These results suggest allosteric modulation of the GABA_A receptor and potential impact on neurocognitive signaling pathways PMC.
Cognitive Enhancement & Neuroplasticity:
Animal models indicate that Selank enhances memory retention, learning behavior, and neuroplasticity. It also appears to increase expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), contributing to adaptive neural remodeling under stress or toxic insult ScienceDirect+15SpringerLink+15PatientPop+15.
Immune and Anti-Inflammatory Activity:
Selank has exhibited immunomodulatory effects in rodent studies, including suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL‑6 and regulation of T-helper cell balance. Transcriptomic shifts in spleen and hippocampus tissue further support its influence on immune signaling pathways and inflammation-related gene expression PMCBiotech Peptides.
Mechanism of Action:
Unlike classical anxiolytics, Selank acts by stabilizing endogenous enkephalins via inhibition of degradative enzymes and modulating receptor affinity. It may also enhance gene transcription of regulatory neuropeptides in long-term stress adaptation models ScienceDirect+15Frontiers+15PMC+15.
Applications in Psychoneuroendocrinology:
Selank has been evaluated in research focusing on adjustment disorders: a two-week administration significantly reduced symptom scores (somatic, nutritional, and stress-related) in adults, alongside improved resilience on psychological stress scales ResearchGate.
Overall, Selank offers a versatile research peptide with potential applications in anxiety modeling, cognitive neuroscience, neuroimmunology, and stress resilience studies.