title: The inhibitory effect of Selank on enkephalin-degrading enzymes as a possible mechanism of its anxiolytic activity.
abstract: Examination of patients with various forms of anxiety and phobic disorders (according to DSM-4 criteria) demonstrated a considerable shortening of enkephalin half-life and reduced total enkephalinase activity in the blood during generalized anxiety, but not during panic disorders and agoraphobia. This was probably related to low blood concentration of endogenous inhibitors of enkephalin-degrading enzymes in patients with generalized anxiety disorders. Heptapeptide Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro), which attenuates behavioral anxiety reactions and does not cause side effects typical of most anxiolytics, dose-dependently inhibited enzymatic hydrolysis of plasma enkephalin (IC50 15 microM). Selank was more potent than peptidase inhibitors bacitracin and puromycin in inhibiting enkephalinases. These results suggest that high efficiency of Selank in the therapy of anxiety and phobic disorders, including generalized anxiety, is due to its ability to inhibit enkephalin hydrolysis.
authors.affiliation: Center of Mental Health, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zozulya
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Kost
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yu Sokolov
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gabaeva
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Grivennikov
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Andreeva
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Zolotarev
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Ivanov
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Andryushchenko
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Myasoedov
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Smulevich
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004745:Enkephalins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D015260:Neprilysin; C100827:TP 7