Selank: Anxiolytic Neuropeptide Research
Tuftsin-derived heptapeptide studied for GABAergic tone, BDNF expression, and stress-response modulation.
- 1Stable heptapeptide analog of tuftsin with retained CNS activity.
- 2Modulates GABA-A subunit expression and serotonin turnover.
- 3Anxiolytic in rodent models without sedation or motor impairment.
- 4Upregulates BDNF and modulates IL-6 / IFN-γ expression.
Origin
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Russia as a stable analog of the endogenous immunomodulator tuftsin. The C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension dramatically increases plasma stability while preserving the parent peptide's CNS activity.
GABAergic and Serotonergic Modulation
Rodent models show that Selank shifts the expression of GABA-A receptor subunits and increases serotonin turnover in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The behavioral signature in elevated-plus-maze and open-field paradigms is anxiolytic without the sedation or motor impairment typical of benzodiazepines.
BDNF and Immunomodulation
Selank upregulates BDNF expression in the hippocampus and modulates expression of cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ — bridging its neurotrophic and tuftsin-derived immune activity. Small human studies in generalized anxiety populations report reductions in symptom scales, though sample sizes remain limited.