Regulation of the metal transporters zip14 and znt10 by manganese intake in mice

The metal transporters ZIP14 and ZnT10 play key physiological roles in maintaining manganese (Mn) homeostasis. However, in vivo regulation of these two transporters by Mn is not understood. Here, we examined how dietary Mn intake regulates ZIP14 and ZnT10 by feeding mice a low-Mn diet, a control diet, or a high-Mn diet for 6 weeks. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure Mn and iron (Fe) levels. ZIP14 and ZnT10 protein levels were measured by western blot analysis. While mice on the high-Mn diet exhibited significantly higher levels of Mn in the blood, liver, and brain, the low-Mn diet group did not display matching reductions, indicating that high Mn intake is more effective in disrupting Mn homeostasis in mice. Additionally, Fe levels were only slightly altered, suggesting independent transport mechanisms for Mn and Fe. In the high-Mn diet group, ZIP14 and ZnT10 were both upregulated in the liver, as well as in the small intestine, indicating a coordinated role for these transporters in Mn excretion. Unexpectedly, this upregulation only occurred in male mice, with the exception of hepatic ZIP14, providing new insight into mechanisms behind widely observed sex differences in Mn homeostasis.