Description
Selank, also known as tuftsin analog 7, is a synthetic heptapeptide analog of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin, with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. Tuftsin, discovered by Victor Najjar in 1969, is primarily produced in the spleen and is a fraction of Immunoglobulin Gamma (IgG).
First synthesized in Russia, Selank was developed as part of efforts to create a “superagonist” version of tuftsin due to its therapeutic potential. The effects of Selank encompass two main categories: neurological and immunomodulatory. Neurologically, Selank enhances brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) upregulation and preserves enkephalin, while immunomodulatory effects stimulate phagocytes, neutrophils, and other immune cells.
Selank has demonstrated a wide range of effects, including anxiolytic, nootropic, antidepressant, bacteriocidal, and antitumor properties, both in vitro and in vivo. It shows promise in treating various chronic and acute diseases. The emerging field of “neuroimmunology” offers new insights into how immunomodulators like Selank impact memory and behavior.
- Selank peptide
- Tuftsin analog 7
- Neurological effects of Selank
- Immunomodulatory properties
- Chronic disease treatment