Direct Transdiaphragmatic Traffic of Peritoneal Macrophages to the Lung

Abstract

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation is a parenteral route of immunization which results in priming of the mucosal immune response. We hypothesized that this may be related to the processing of antigen either in the lymphoid tissue associated with the peritoneal cavity or in the sites that drain it. Particulates injected into the peritoneal cavity are removed principally by way of transdiaphragmatic lymphatic channels situated under the diaphragmatic mesotheliura^1,2. These channels drain into larger intrathoracic lymphatics which in turn enter anterior mammary and parathymic lymph nodes before emptying into the bloodstream.