Peritoneal B-cell subsets in the genus Mus: their role in innate immunity.

In this review, we demonstrate that wild-derived mouse strains (wild-DMS) represent a useful tool for dissecting the immune system. We confirm and extend the notion that we and others have previously advanced, which is that common laboratory mice are not fully representative of the whole genus Mus. We illustrate how wild-DMS helped us to unveil a novel B-cell population that, in contrast to the B-1 cell population, is present in the entire genus Mus, including common laboratory mice. Moreover, we suggest that Bw cells belong to the "natural memory" B-cell population that comprises B-1 and MZ B cells.