Selank

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is a structural analog of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), a naturally occurring immunostimulatory tetrapeptide, with an added Pro-Gly-Pro sequence that enhances metabolic stability and extends the peptide's biological half-life. Selank has been the subject of extensive preclinical research for its effects on anxiety-behavior research models, cognitive-function research markers, and immune-modulation markers.

The anxiolytic-assay mechanism of Selank is believed to involve modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission and influence on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Research has demonstrated that Selank increases BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus and affects the balance of enkephalin and monoamine neurotransmitter systems. Unlike classical benzodiazepine anxiolytics, Selank does not appear to produce sedation, amnesia, or dependence in preclinical models, suggesting a distinct pharmacological profile.

Beyond its neurotropic effects, Selank retains immunomodulatory properties derived from its tuftsin backbone. Studies have shown that it can enhance the functional activity of phagocytes, modulate cytokine-marker expression, and influence the innate-immune response in preclinical systems. This dual action on both the nervous and immune systems has generated research interest in preclinical models where neuroinflammation markers and immune dysregulation intersect.