Figure 1

Uptake of asbestos fibers (in black) via the paracellular pathway down the physiological water absorption is favoured by the subatmospheric interstitial pressure and by the osmotic gradient generated in the baso-lateral spaces by the activity of Na⁺/K⁺ ATP-ase pump. A death of alveolar epithelial cells after asbestos fibers phagocytosis followed by desquamation of the alveolar lining may represent another translocation pathway. Transcellular water through aquaporins (AQP-1) is also shown.