Selank is a synthetic tuftsin heptapeptide analog approved in Russia for anxiety — anxiolytic without sedation or dependence via GABAergic modulation, with additional BDNF upregulation and immunomodulatory properties.
Product definition
What is Selank?
Selank is a synthetic tuftsin heptapeptide analog approved in Russia for anxiety — anxiolytic without sedation or dependence via GABAergic modulation, with additional BDNF upregulation and immunomodulatory properties.
Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro; CAS 129954-34-3) was developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics (Russian Academy of Sciences) as a metabolically stabilized analog of tuftsin, a tetrapeptide naturally produced by enzymatic cleavage of IgG. Tuftsin has documented immunostimulatory activity; the Pro-Gly-Pro extension in Selank was added to improve CNS bioavailability and stability, and during research characterization, anxiolytic properties were identified that had not been predicted from tuftsin's profile alone.
The GABAergic anxiolytic mechanism was characterized through a series of animal behavioral pharmacology studies using standard anxiety models (elevated plus maze, light-dark box, Vogel conflict test). The key findings were: (1) anxiolytic potency comparable to diazepam at lower doses; (2) absence of sedation and motor impairment at anxiolytic doses; (3) absence of tolerance development upon chronic administration; (4) no withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation. This profile has driven sustained interest in Selank as a research model for non-BZ GABAergic anxiolytic pharmacology.
The Russian regulatory approval for anxiety disorders was based on clinical trial data generated within the Russian research system, providing human pharmacokinetic and safety context.
Research context
How is Selank described in the research literature?
Selank modulates GABA-A receptor activity without direct benzodiazepine site binding, producing anxiolytic effects in animal models without sedation, motor impairment, or tolerance. Secondary mechanisms include BDNF upregulation in hippocampal tissue and immunomodulatory activity inherited from its tuftsin structural ancestry. Approved in Russia for anxiety treatment.
Compound profile
Key facts about Selank
- Class
- Synthetic tuftsin analog / heptapeptide anxiolytic
- Sequence
- Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro
- Molecular weight
- ~751 Da
- CAS
- 129954-34-3
- Clinical status
- Approved in Russia for anxiety disorders
- Primary mechanism
- GABA-A modulation (non-BZ site), BDNF upregulation, immunomodulation
- Research category
- Anxiolytic pharmacology, GABA-A biology, stress neuroscience, immunomodulation
- Storage
- Lyophilized: −20°C. Reconstituted: 2–8°C, use within 14 days
Research areas
What research areas is Selank associated with?
- Approved in Russia for anxiety disorders — regulatory validation unusual for anxiolytic research peptides
- GABAergic anxiolytic mechanism without benzodiazepine site interaction — distinct mechanistic class from BZ drugs
- Animal anxiety models: comparable efficacy to diazepam without sedation, motor impairment, or tolerance
- BDNF upregulation in hippocampal tissue — neurotrophic dimension complementing the anxiolytic mechanism
- Immunomodulatory activity from tuftsin structural ancestry — cytokine balance and T-cell modulation research
- No documented tolerance or withdrawal in preclinical chronic administration studies
Research audience
Who researches Selank?
Selank is used by researchers studying GABA-A pharmacology, anxiolytic mechanisms, non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic development, stress-system neurobiology, hippocampal neuroplasticity in anxiety contexts, and tuftsin-derived immunopeptide biology.
Preclinical research overview
What does the preclinical literature say about Selank?
The discovery of Selank's anxiolytic properties emerged unexpectedly during the Soviet-era investigation of tuftsin analogs for immunomodulation — the Selank Pro-Gly-Pro extension was intended to improve metabolic stability, not to add anxiolytic activity. Subsequent mechanistic investigation characterized the GABAergic pharmacology and distinguished it from classical benzodiazepine anxiolytics.
In the context of current anxiolytic pharmacology research, Selank represents a potentially important model: the benzodiazepine pharmacological class, while highly effective, is associated with tolerance, dependence, sedation, and cognitive impairment that limit clinical utility. The identification of GABAergic modulation without these liabilities — if mechanistically reproducible and translatable — is pharmacologically significant. Selank's preclinical profile supports investigation of whether its mechanism can be characterized in sufficient detail to understand how it separates anxiolytic from sedative GABAergic signaling.
The BDNF dimension connects Selank to the broader literature on neurotrophic factor roles in anxiety and stress disorders — BDNF deficiency has been implicated in PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and chronic stress-induced behavioral changes. Whether Selank's BDNF effects contribute to or are independent from its anxiolytic mechanism is an open research question.
Common questions
Frequently asked about Selank
How does Selank differ from benzodiazepines mechanistically?
Benzodiazepines are positive allosteric modulators at the benzodiazepine binding site on GABA-A receptors, uniformly potentiating GABA-A activity across receptor subtypes — producing anxiolytic, sedative, amnestic, and muscle relaxant effects. Selank modulates GABA-A activity without direct BZ site binding, producing a more selective anxiety-related anxiolytic response without the sedation and motor effects in preclinical models. The exact GABA-A subtype selectivity mechanism of Selank is not fully characterized — which is itself an active research question.
Is Selank immunologically active?
Yes — its structural origins from tuftsin (an endogenous immunostimulatory tetrapeptide) give Selank immunomodulatory properties characterized in preclinical studies. Published data documents effects on cytokine expression (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α modulation), interferon production, and T-cell activity. These immunomodulatory effects are separate from the anxiolytic mechanism and may be relevant to research examining immune-anxiety axis connections or the role of inflammatory signaling in anxiety behavior.
What is the storage protocol for Selank?
Lyophilized Selank is stable at −20°C. Once reconstituted, store at 2–8°C and use within approximately 14 days. The peptide's short sequence and lack of disulfide bonds means it does not have complex conformational stability requirements, but cold storage of reconstituted solution remains necessary to prevent hydrolytic degradation.
Research Use Only
Sold for laboratory and research purposes only. Not approved for, nor intended for, human or veterinary consumption, diagnostic use, or therapeutic application. These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Keep out of reach of children. For use by qualified researchers only.
Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or a clinical protocol. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any health or treatment decisions.
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