The Ins and Outs of Manganese: ZIP14 facilitates the efflux of excess manganese from the brain

Manganese (Mn) is essential for many enzymatic processes in the brain; however, Mn overload can lead to neurotoxicity and behavioral deficits. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), comprised of polarized endothelial cells, tightly regulates metals in and out of the brain. ZIP14 (SLC39A14) is a metal transporter more recently found to transport Mn, with mutations in human SLC39A14 resulting in brain Mn accumulation and neurological deficits. However, ZIP14’s precise localization and role in BBB endothelial cells remain unclear. Here, we show in vivo ZIP14 expression in BBB endothelial cells, which upregulates following Mn supplementation. Using expansion microscopy, we observed a shift in ZIP14 localization from an equal apical-basolateral distribution to predominantly basolateral after Mn exposure. Endothelial-specific Zip14 KO (EKO) mice exhibited impaired Mn efflux from the brain and increased brain Mn accumulation after nasal delivery and dietary Mn supplementation. In vitro studies using primary endothelial cells from EKO mice and ZIP14-overexpressing hCMEC/D3 cells confirmed that ZIP14 primarily mediates basolateral-to-apical Mn transport. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ZIP14 is critical for brain Mn clearance, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target to mitigate Mn-induced neurotoxicity.