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This family is investigated for its interaction with the central nervous system: neuroprotection, stress modulation, sleep and synaptic plasticity. They are usually short peptides derived from fragments of endogenous molecules.
- Semax: a heptapeptide derived from a fragment of ACTH(4-10) with a stabilizing extension. It is investigated for its relationship with neurotrophic factors such as BDNF, modulation of the dopaminergic system and neuroprotection.
- Selank: a synthetic analog of tuftsin, an immunomodulatory fragment of immunoglobulin. It is studied in the context of anxiety, with a described relationship to the GABAergic system and BDNF expression.
- DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide): investigated for its relationship with the regulation of slow-wave sleep and the stress response.
The cross-cutting pharmacokinetic challenge is the blood-brain barrier. Some of these peptides are studied by the intranasal route, which seeks more direct access to the CNS, avoiding part of first-pass effect and systemic degradation.
Catalogue compounds mentioned in this lesson
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