Understanding the Role of Phospholipid Scramblase 1 in ILC2-Driven Type 2 Inflammation in Alternaria-Induced AsthmadissertationsHou, YuhancreatorZhou, YangAdvisorOancea, ElenaReaderCrego, AdamReaderBrown University. Biology and Medicine: Biotechnologysponsor2026, None p.born digitalThesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2026thesesExaggerated type 2 immune responses play critical roles in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of innate type 2 immune responses and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in initiating and amplifying these inflammatory processes. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate ILC2-driven type 2 inflammation remain incompletely understood. Phospholipid scramblase-1 (PLSCR1) is a membrane-associated protein involved in phospholipid translocation across the plasma membrane and has been implicated in several immune signaling pathways. Despite these findings, the role of PLSCR1 in regulating innate type 2 immune responses has not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigated the potential role of PLSCR1 in allergen-induced type 2 inflammation in lung and skin using mouse models. First, an intranasal Alternaria alternata–induced airway inflammation model was established to examine allergen-driven inflammatory responses in the lung. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, histological assessment, and flow cytometry were used to characterize airway inflammation and the activation and recruitment of ILC2 populations. Histological analysis suggested differences in airway inflammatory responses between experimental groups, while flow cytometry analysis did not reveal a strong shift in ILC2 population frequencies, suggesting that PLSCR1 may influence functional aspects of type 2 immunity rather than markedly altering ILC2 abundance. In addition, an Alternaria-induced skin atopic dermatitis model was developed to investigate allergic skin inflammation and to explore the potential migration of ILC2s along the skin–lung immune axis. Together, these studies establish experimental models for investigating the role of PLSCR1 in type 2 immune responses and provide preliminary insights into how PLSCR1 may modulate allergen- induced inflammation across tissues.PLSCR1; Type 2 Inflammation; Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILC2); Alternaria Alternata; Allergic Airway Inflammation; Atopic Dermatitis; Skin–Lung Immune AxisEnglishRPB20260516