Description
Selank โ Mechanism of Action & Evidence Summary
Scientifically grounded overview with PubMed links. For research purposes only โ no medical advice or therapeutic claims.
Tuftsin analog
GABAergic modulation
BDNF/TrkB
What Is Selank?
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro; TKPRPGP) derived from the naturally occurring tetrapeptide tuftsin, with sequence extensions designed to enhance stability and biological interactions. Published investigations most frequently evaluate Selank in preclinical settings and localized clinical research programs, focusing on neurotransmission, neurotrophin signaling, and stress-response biology. This page summarizes mechanistic themes and representative literature for educational review.
Mechanism of Action (scientific detail)
1) GABAergic System Interface
Transcriptomic work in rodent brain indicates that Selank rapidly alters expression of genes involved in neurotransmission and shows a positive correlation with early gene-expression changes seen after GABA administrationโsupporting the hypothesis of allosteric modulation of the GABAergic system (research context).1
2) Neurotrophin Signaling (BDNF/TrkB)
In vivo experiments report that intranasal Selank can regulate BDNF gene expression in the rat hippocampus, connecting Selank exposure with neurotrophin-linked plasticity pathways (mechanistic context, not a clinical claim).2
3) Transcriptomic & Immune-Response Nodes
Beyond neurotransmission, early gene-expression studies describe modulation of immune-related transcripts in brain tissue after Selank exposure, consistent with a network-level regulatory profile across neuronal and glial signaling axes (preclinical observations).1
4) Design Rationale: Tuftsin-Derived Scaffold
Selankโs designโan analog of tuftsinโaims to leverage innate peptide signaling while improving peptidase resistance and receptor-interaction kinetics through sequence extension (PGP motif), potentially shaping the time course of observed molecular effects in research models.
Evidence Snapshot (preclinical/selected studies)
- Neurotransmission gene programs: Rapid (โ1 h) changes in genes linked to neurotransmission and a GABA-aligned expression signature following Selank exposure in rodent brain tissue.1
- BDNF regulation in vivo: Intranasal Selank modulated hippocampal BDNF expression in rats, suggesting engagement of neurotrophin signaling pathways under experimental conditions.2
PubMed References (1โ2)
- Volkova A, etย al. Selank administration affects the expression of genes involved in neurotransmission; data consistent with GABAergic allosteric modulation (rodent brain). PMC4757669.
- Inozemtseva LS, etย al. Intranasal Selank regulates BDNF expression in rat hippocampus in vivo. PubMed 18841804.
Tip: follow the links to review full abstracts, methods, and limitations.
