Selank

Overview

Selank (TP-7) is a synthetic heptapeptide developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It consists of the endogenous immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) extended with a C-terminal glyproline sequence (Pro-Gly-Pro) that confers enzymatic stability. Selank was approved as an anxiolytic medication in Russia in 2009 and has been the subject of extensive neuroscience research. Unlike benzodiazepines, it does not produce sedation, tolerance, or withdrawal effects in the models studied.

Mechanism of Action

Selank modulates the balance of monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism — increasing serotonin (5-HT) levels while stabilising norepinephrine degradation rates. It enhances the expression of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in the hippocampus, promoting neuroplasticity. Selank also influences the GABAergic system, acting as an allosteric modulator that enhances GABA-A receptor sensitivity without directly binding the benzodiazepine site. Its immunomodulatory effects, inherited from tuftsin, include modulation of IL-6, TNF-α, and other cytokines.

Research Applications

• Anxiolytic mechanism research without sedative interference
• BDNF-mediated neuroplasticity studies
• Monoamine metabolism and serotonin pathway research
• Neuroimmune interaction and cytokine modulation
• Cognitive function and memory consolidation models