Distribution of therapeutic proteins into thoracic lymph after intravenous administration is protein size-dependent and primarily occurs within the liver and mesentery

Schematic representation of the extravasation and transfer of therapeutic proteins (large vs small sizes represented by black vs blue circles, respectively) from the blood circulation through to lymph. Therapeutic proteins predominantly transfer from blood to lymph within liver and mesentery/intestine (i.e. viscera). This is because of the high lymph flow rates from these areas as well as the enhanced extravasation of proteins across the fenestrated and sinusoidal blood capillaries of the mesentery and liver. Optimizing the properties of IV administered therapeutic proteins represents a viable approach to better target and treat pathological states involving the visceral lymphatics such as cancers, inflammatory diseases and infection. Note: the picture of the human body is adapted from http://www.xtend-life.com.122