Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Limbal Approach-Subretinal Injection of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in Mice Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Published on: August 7, 2015
QM107, a novel CD148 (RTP Type J) activating peptide therapy for treating neovascular age-related macular
Samantha Arokiasamy1, Michaela J M Balderstone1, Faheem Shaik1
1William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Background And Purpose:
Angiogenesis is a pathological component of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Current therapies, although successful, are prone to high levels of patient non-response and a loss of efficacy over time, indicating the need to explore other therapeutic avenues. We have shown that an interaction between syndecan-2 and the tyrosine phosphatase receptor CD148 (RTP Type J) results in the ablation of angiogenesis. Here we exploit this pathway to develop a peptide activator of CD148 as a therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Experimental Approach:
We tested a peptide (QM107) derived from syndecan-2 in a variety of angiogenesis models and a pre-clinical model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. We assessed the toxicological and inflammatory profiles of QM107 and its stability in vitreous humour.
Key Results:
QM107 inhibits angiogenesis in ex vivo sprouting assays and disrupts endothelial microcapillary formation via inhibition of cell migration. QM107 acts through CD148, leading to changes in GSK3A phosphorylation and β1 integrin activation. QM107 elicits a negligible inflammatory response and exhibits limited toxicity in cultured cells, and is stable in vitreous humour. Finally, we show proof of concept that QM107 blocks angiogenesis in vivo using a model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Conclusion And Implications:
We have developed a CD148 activating peptide which shows promise in inhibiting angiogenesis in models of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This treatment could either represent an alternative or augment existing therapies, and owing to its distinct mode of action be used in patients who do not respond to existing treatments.
More Related Videos
09:46Isolation, Culture, and Genetic Engineering of Mammalian Primary Pigment Epithelial Cells for Non-Viral Gene Therapy
Published on: February 26, 2021
05:14Author Spotlight: Overcoming Anti-VEGF Resistance Through Advanced Vascular Morphology Assessment in Choroidal Neovascularization
Published on: August 11, 2023
Related Concept Videos
iPS Cell Differentiation
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Diabetic Retinopathy