DMT1 may be the major transporter of manganese across the blood brain barrier and expression of this protein in the nasal epithelium provides a route for direct absorption of metals into the brain.
DMT1 is probably the main carrier of manganese through the blood-brain barrier, and its presence in the nasal epithelium offers a route for direct metal uptake into the brain, which can be compared to other situations where DMT1 plays a similar role.