Scientific Reference
Selank
Evidence profile: Controlled human evidence
Selank begins with tuftsin, a four-residue fragment of the immunoglobulin G heavy chain that immunology has studied for its effects on phagocytic cells. Adding Pro-Gly-Pro to it, to slow enzymatic breakdown, gives the seven-residue peptide Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was developed in Russia and the evidence base reflects that: the great majority of published work comes from Russian groups, consists of rodent behavioural and gene-expression experiments with some small clinical studies, and a good deal of it appeared in Russian-language journals. Independent investigation outside Russia is sparse, which is the main thing to hold in mind when reading any claim about it.
Mechanism of Action
What has been reported about Selank is a collection of observations rather than a pathway, and no receptor for it has been found. Rodent work describes altered expression of genes in GABAergic neurotransmission, and some experiments point to allosteric modulation of GABA-A receptor function. Separately it has been reported to inhibit enkephalin-degrading enzymes in serum, to change monoamine metabolism in the brain, to shift expression of cytokines including interleukin-6, and to raise brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the rat hippocampus. These findings come from a small number of laboratories, and independent replication of them is still outstanding.
Molecular Information
- Type: Synthetic tuftsin analogue (heptapeptide)
- Molecular weight: 751.9 g/mol
- Molecular formula: C33H57N11O9
- CAS: 129954-34-3
Published Research
[A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders]
Medvedev VE et al. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2014 · Clinical
PMID 25176261 — View on PubMed