Selank Studies in Anxiety and Brain Function

Selank is a short peptide with anxiolytic and nootropic properties, similar to the naturally occurring Tuftsin. Tuftsin is a tetrapeptide that stimulates the immune system. T helper cells, monoamine neurotransmitters, IL-6, and brain-derived neurotrophic factors are all regulated by it (BDNF). Selank peptide only differs from Tuftsin by an extra four amino acids in its chain that induces a longer half-life and improves stability.

Research Indicates the Following Functions of Selank

• Research shows that Selank may be an effective neuroprotective
• Selank may help to improve mood, decrease stress, lower anxiety, and positively promote spirit and learning.
• According to research, 84 genes connect to GABA signalling^[2]. Selank potentially regulates seven genes while 45 genes induce change in expression. The net result shows that 52 genes tied to GABA signalling are impacted by selank to a certain degree, proving that selank directly modulates gene expression in nerve cells and impacts changes by influencing the affinity of the GABA receptor for GABA.
• The impact of selank on enkephalin degradation can regulate its effects on GABA receptors. According to scientific evidence, patients with anxiety and phobias have increased enkephalinase activity in their blood after stress, resulting in short half-lived enkephalins.
• Selank resets the enzymatic pathway and protects the natural anxiolytic peptides by inhibiting enkephalin degradation. The research proposes that part of the selank effect is due to its preventive impact on enkephalin degradation.

Selank and Memory

• Scientists believe Selank may directly enhance cognition^[3].
• Training mice with rewards, such as food, in combination with Selank can boost memory trace stability and storage. Selank’s effect in these mice samples, despite their anxiety levels, shows that the peptide goes a long way to lower stress-related memory impairment.
• Selank can also potentially alter memory by regulating gene expression in the hippocampus. Research shows changes in mRNA levels of 36 varying genes following. Most genes encode proteins relating to the plasma membrane, regulating ion-dependent processes in memory and learning.
• According to studies, Selank can salvage learning and memory. Treating mice samples with neurotoxin and Selank shows restoration of cognitive processes. This impact correlates with an artificial inhibition of the catecholamine system in the brain via selank. Scientists believe that Selank can offer the required methods and cognitive function following traumatic brain injury, specifically in injuries that occur during birth.

How Selank May Impact Pain Perception

• Selank inhibits enzymes in the blood that induce enkephalin synthesis, reducing natural enkephalin degradation. Enkephalins are peptides that bind to opioid receptors, reducing the severity of pain. They also regulate human stress response and are at abnormally high levels in the adrenal glands and brain. Therefore, Selank may modulates stress response and its impacts on learning, concentration, and memory by lowering enkephalin levels in the brain.

Selank and the Immune System following Anxiety

• Selank suppresses genes that control inflammatory cytokine inflammation, IL-6, in patients with depression. According to research—this impact is only evident in patients with depression, not in healthy individuals^[4].
• Selank’s research in mice samples shows that the peptide controls the expression of 34 genes that influence the inflammatory process. These genes impact cytokines, chemokines, and both receptors. Specifically, selank modulates Bcl6 expression, a gene that controls immune system development.
• In addition, Selank and Selank fragments can temporarily influence gene expression for Xcr1, C3, CAsp1, and II2rf in the mouse spleen. Selank may affect the immune system balance and inflammation by impacting these genes.

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References

1. Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Israelian AIu, Chobanu IK, Kost NV, Sokolov OIu, Miasoedov NF. [A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2014;114(7):17-22. Russian. PMID: 25176261.
2. Volkova A, Shadrina M, Kolomin T, Andreeva L, Limborska S, Myasoedov N, Slominsky P. Selank Administration Affects the Expression of Some Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission. Front Pharmacol. 2016 Feb 18;7:31. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00031. PMID: 26924987; PMCID: PMC4757669.
3. Semenova TP, Kozlovskaya MM, Zakharova NM, Kozlovskii II, Zuikov AV. Effect of selank on cognitive processes after damage inflicted to the cerebral catecholamine system during early ontogeny. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2007 Nov;144(5):689-91. doi: 10.1007/s10517-007-0406-2. PMID: 18683497.
4. Uchakina ON, Uchakin PN, Miasoedov NF, Andreeva LA, Shcherbenko VE, Mezentseva MV, Gabaeva MV, Sokolov OIu, Zozulia AA, Ershov FI. [Immunomodulatory effects of selank in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008;108(5):71-5. Russian. PMID: 18577961.