# Tongji University team: cold activates lung nerve fibers and adipose thermogenesis in male mice

- Published: 2026-11-05 00:12 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Biology & biochemistry
- Tags: adipose thermogenesis, pulmonary nerve fibers, cold exposure, Club cells, SCGB3A1, SLC44A2 choline transporter, ADRB2, NGF feedforward loop, Tongji University, Nature Communications
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-33cb14ac0ec37e0a4cd4d5b8_tongji_university_team/

**Authors report that cold activates TH-positive nerve fibers in the lung, which lowers SCGB3A1 expression in Club cells and promotes thermogenesis in adipose tissue of mice.**

![Tongji University team: cold activates lung nerve fibers and adipose thermogenesis in male mice](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/2d537c7285cdae3d.jpg)
*International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0*

A research group from Tongji University in Shanghai and partner institutions reported that cold exposure activates TH-positive pulmonary nerve fibers (TPNFs) in male mice, and that this activation promotes thermogenesis in adipose tissue. The study was published in Nature Communications on 2 November 2026. [1] Cold is known to activate sympathetic neurons in adipose tissue to maintain thermal homeostasis. Whether sympathetic activation in non-adipose tissues contributes to cross-organ regulation of adipose thermogenesis had remained unclear. [1]

## TPNFs, Club cells and SCGB3A1

According to the authors, TPNFs innervate bronchial Club cells in the lung. Cold exposure activates these fibers and leads to a reduction in expression of Secretoglobin family 3A member 1 (SCGB3A1) in Club cells, acting through Adrenergic Receptor β2 (ADRB2). [1]

SCGB3A1 is a secretory factor specific to Club cells. The authors report that it binds the choline transporter SLC44A2 on adipocytes, which restricts choline uptake and impairs thermogenic activation. [1] Under cold exposure, the fall in SCGB3A1 expression is therefore part of the pathway that promotes adipose thermogenesis. [1] The work used mouse lines with Club cell-targeted Cre drivers, CC10-Cre and CC10-CreERT2, the latter combined with the mTmG reporter.

## Feedforward loop and tracheal norepinephrine

TPNF activation also induces NGF secretion from Club cells. NGF in turn strengthens TPNF innervation of Club cells, forming a feedforward loop. [1]

To stimulate this mechanism, the authors infused the ADRB2 agonist norepinephrine (NE) into the trachea of mice. This enhanced thermogenesis. [1] All results described relate to experiments in mice; the study title specifies male mice.

The corresponding authors are Junfeng Han, Zhen-Ning Zhang and Bing Luan.

## Sources

1. [Nature Communications](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-79317-8)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-33cb14ac0ec37e0a4cd4d5b8_tongji_university_team/