The peptide semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis.

Medvedeva EV, Dmitrieva VG, Povarova OV, Limborska SA, Skvortsova VI, Myasoedov NF, Dergunova LV

BMC genomics24 Mar 2014Cited by 22 (Europe PMC)

PMID24661604PMCIDPMC3987924DOI10.1186/1471-2164-15-228PepBankPUB-24661604

Summary

BackgroundThe nootropic neuroprotective peptide Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) has proved efficient in the therapy of brain stroke; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain obscure. Our genome-wide study was designed to investigate the response of the transcriptome of ischemized rat brain cortex tissues to the action of Semax in vivo.ResultsThe gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The peptide predominantly enhanced the expression of genes related to the immune system. Three hours after pMCAO, Semax influenced the expression of some genes that affect the activity of immune cells, and, 24 h after pMCAO, the action of Semax on the immune response increased considerably. The genes implicated in this response represented over 50% of the total number of genes that exhibited Semax-induced altered expression. Among the immune-response genes, the expression of which was modulated by Semax, genes that encode immunoglobulins and chemokines formed the most notable groups. In response to Semax administration, 24 genes related to the vascular system exhibited altered expression 3 h after pMCAO, whereas 12 genes were changed 24 h after pMCAO. These genes are associated with such processes as the development and migration of endothelial tissue, the migration of smooth muscle cells, hematopoiesis, and vasculogenesis.ConclusionsSemax affects several biological processes involved in the function of various systems. The immune response is the process most markedly affected by the drug. Semax altered the expression of genes that modulate the amount and mobility of immune cells and enhanced the expression of genes that encode chemokines and immunoglobulins. In conditions of rat brain focal ischemia, Semax influenced the expression of genes that promote the formation and functioning of the vascular system.The immunomodulating effect of the peptide discovered in our research and its impact on the vascular system during ischemia are likely to be the key mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of the peptide.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with focal brain ischemia, Semax mainly enhanced the expression of genes related to the immune system compared with the ischemia group.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain ischemia, Semax mostly increased the activity of immune-system genes compared with untreated ischemic rats.
Peptide
Semax
Outcome
IncreaseExpression of immune-system genes
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), cortex
Comparator
Ischemia group (no Semax)
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
The peptide predominantly enhanced the expression of genes related to the immune system.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2466160401
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats 3 h after pMCAO, Semax changed the expression of some genes that affect the activity of immune cells.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain ischemia, Semax changed the activity of some immune-cell genes 3 hours after the blockage.
Peptide
Semax
Outcome
Direction not reportedExpression of immune-cell activity genes 3 h after pMCAO
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), cortex
Comparator
Ischemia group (no Semax)
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Three hours after pMCAO, Semax influenced the expression of some genes that affect the activity of immune cells
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2466160402
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats 24 h after pMCAO, the effect of Semax on the immune response increased considerably; these genes were over 50% of all genes with Semax-induced altered expression.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain ischemia, Semax had a larger effect on immune-response genes 24 hours after the blockage than at 3 hours.
Peptide
Semax
Outcome
IncreaseImmune-response gene effect 24 h after pMCAO
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), cortex
Comparator
Ischemia group (no Semax)
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Three hours after pMCAO, Semax influenced the expression of some genes that affect the activity of immune cells, and, 24 h after pMCAO, the action of Semax on the immune response increased considerably.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The genes implicated in this response represented over 50% of the total number of genes that exhibited Semax-induced altered expression.
Summary · context
The gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2466160403
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with focal brain ischemia, Semax enhanced the expression of genes that encode chemokines and immunoglobulins.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain ischemia, Semax increased the activity of genes for chemokines and immunoglobulins compared with untreated ischemic rats.
Peptide
Semax
Outcome
IncreaseExpression of immunoglobulin and chemokine genes
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), cortex
Comparator
Ischemia group (no Semax)
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Among the immune-response genes, the expression of which was modulated by Semax, genes that encode immunoglobulins and chemokines formed the most notable groups.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
enhanced the expression of genes that encode chemokines and immunoglobulins.
Summary · context
The gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2466160404
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats 3 h after pMCAO, Semax altered the expression of 24 genes related to the vascular system.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain ischemia, Semax changed the activity of 24 blood-vessel genes 3 hours after the blockage.
Peptide
Semax
Outcome
Direction not reportedVascular-system gene expression 3 h after pMCAO
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), cortex
Comparator
Ischemia group (no Semax)
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Vascular genes with altered expression
24 genes
3 h after pMCAO
Source sentences
Summary
In response to Semax administration, 24 genes related to the vascular system exhibited altered expression 3 h after pMCAO
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2466160405
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats 24 h after pMCAO, Semax altered the expression of 12 genes related to the vascular system.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain ischemia, Semax changed the activity of 12 blood-vessel genes 24 hours after the blockage.
Peptide
Semax
Outcome
Direction not reportedVascular-system gene expression 24 h after pMCAO
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), cortex
Comparator
Ischemia group (no Semax)
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Vascular genes with altered expression
12 genes
24 h after pMCAO
Source sentences
Summary
whereas 12 genes were changed 24 h after pMCAO.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The gene-expression alteration caused by the action of the peptide Semax was compared with the gene expression of the "ischemia" group animals at 3 and 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2466160406

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
9 Oct 2026, 19:08 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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