WormMine: AnatomyTerm WBbt:0005811

• Definition: a structural (glial) cell which forms an specialized environment surrounding the sensory ending(s) of one or more neurons; sometimes accompanied by a more distal socket cell. In early development of the sensory nerves and of the nerve ring some sheath cells (cephalics and labials) may also provide a substrate for axon guidance
• Name: neuronal sheath cell
• Primary Identifier: WBbt:0005811
• Synonym: pocket cell

10 Children

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
sheath cell of amphid sensillum.	amphid sheath cell		WBbt:0006754
sheath cell of phasmid sensillum	phasmid sheath cell		WBbt:0006755
sheath cell of the cephalic sensilla.	cephalic sheath cell		WBbt:0008406
Sheath of hook sensillum, receptor anterior to cloaca in male	HOsh	lineage name: P10.ppppp	WBbt:0004760
postcloacal sheath cell.	PC sheath cell		WBbt:0008414
posterior deirid sheath cell.	PDE sheath cell		WBbt:0008415
outer labial sheath cell.	OL sheath cell		WBbt:0008413
inner labial sheath cell.	IL sheath cell		WBbt:0008412
sheath cell of male copulatory spicule.	spicule sheath cell		WBbt:0005311
anterior deirid sheath cell.	ADE sheath cell		WBbt:0008411

0 Expression Clusters

33 Expression Patterns

• Primary Identifier: Expr4842
• Pattern: A-class motor neuron: enriched in embryo (2.9); not expressed in larva. Neuronal expression include: Weak in head and tail neurons, ventral cord. Also expressed in other cells: Pharynx, sheath cells, distal tip cell. Pan-neuronal: enriched in embryo (1.9); expressed in larva.

• Primary Identifier: Expr4812
• Remark: Picture: Figure 7A, Figure 7, C and D.
• Pattern: RDY-2 has a distribution very similar to that of VHA-5 in the excretory canal and the epidermis. Specifically, expression was seen in the lining of the excretory canal and excretory duct, but not around the excretory pore. As no expression was seen around the excretory cell body, authors conclude that RDY-2 is localized at the apical side of the canal, as reported for VHA-5 (see Expr4811). RDY-2 had a distribution in the epidermis similar to that of VHA-5 and was also excluded from seam cells. RDY-2 expression became progressively fainter after the L1 stage. In addition, authors found RDY-2 expressed in the sheath cells associated with head and tail sensory organs. Three-dimensional reconstructions showed that VHA-5 and RDY-2 formed a sixfold symmetrical pattern, which includes a larger spot that presumably corresponds to the amphid.
• Subcellular Localization: Localized at the apical side of the excretory canal. In the amphid sheath cell, VHA-5 and RDY-2 were found in the most distal part of the cell lining the sheath pocket, which can be equated to its apical side.

• Primary Identifier: Expr4813
• Remark: Picture: Figure 7, C and D.
• Pattern: Expression was observed throughout development, starting at midembryogenesis. VHA-5 was also detected at the lumen of the vulva and rectum. In addition, authors found VHA-5 expressed in the sheath cells associated with head and tail sensory organs. Three-dimensional reconstructions showed that VHA-5 and RDY-2 formed a sixfold symmetrical pattern, which includes a larger spot that presumably corresponds to the amphid.
• Subcellular Localization: In the amphid sheath cell, VHA-5 was found in the most distal part of the cell lining the sheath pocket, which can be equated to its apical side.

• Primary Identifier: Expr4281
• Reporter Gene: [wrk-1::TM-gfp] translational fusion. wrk-1 expression was determined by means of a reporter construct (wrk1::TM::gfp), in which 4 kb of sequences upstream of the ATG start codon, all exons, and the first three introns of the wrk-1 locus were fused in frame to gfp. This construct is able to rescue the phenotype of wrk-1 mutant animals. See Transgene otEx2389. [wrk-1::gfp] transcriptional fusion in which 4 kb of sequences upstream of the ATG start codon was fused to GFP. See Transgene otEx203 [wrk-1::gfp] translational fusion. See Transgene otEx2522.
• Pattern: The wrk-1 gene is expressed in ventral midline cells, namely in the eMNs. Additional expression is observed in a subset of head neurons, including interneurons (AIY class), sensory neurons (ASI class), and head motoneurons (SMDV/D class), and glial-type sheath and socket cells. Outside the nervous system, the most prominent sites of wrk-1 expression include the intestine, excretory gland cell, distal tip cell, and coelomocytes.

• Primary Identifier: Expr15998
• Pattern: LPLA-2:: CHERRY was widely expressed from embryonic stages throughout larval and adult stages in various tissues, including pharynx, hypodermis, sheath cells, intestine, muscle and tail region.

• Primary Identifier: Expr9253
• Remark: The general distribution pattern of Venus::UNC-6 in the wild-type genetic background was similar to that of 3xHA-tagged UNC-6, reported previously (Wadsworth et al. 1996), except for an additional observation of Venus::UNC-6 expression in P6.p descendants, ventral muscle, dorsal muscle in the tail, and in the ray of the male tail. These differences were probably due to the different fixation methods used.
• Pattern: Venus::UNC-6 was mainly detected in ventral cells, including epidermoblasts, glia, neurons, muscle cells, and vulval precursor cells. Venus::UNC-6 was detected in dorsal muscle cells in the tail. In male worms, Venus::UNC-6 was expressed in the ray.

• Primary Identifier: Expr3776
• Pattern: In contrast, D1 and D2 were very strongly expressed in the muscles of the pharynx and vulva and in both the cell bodies and axons of a very restricted set of neurons. These included the hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs), about four unidentified neurons with cell bodies in either the ventral or retrovesicular ganglion near the terminal bulb of the pharynx, and about six neurons with cell bodies in the lumbar ganglion in the tail, including PVQL and PVQR, as distinguished by their axonal patterning. A small number of axons were present in the nerve ring and the ventral cord. The lateral processes of ALNL and ALNR were also visible. D1 and D2 also exhibited sporadic and weak fluorescence in body wall and intestinal muscles. Isoform E was strongly expressed in the nervous system and was detected in the cell bodies and axons of most, if not all neurons, including those in the pharynx, and at least some of the neuron-associated sheath and/or socket cells. Isoform E was also observed in the excretory canals and the somatic gonad, including the spermatheca, gonadal sheath, and distal tip cells. Isoform B was expressed most strongly in the axons of neurons, particularly in the nerve ring and the ventral nerve cord. This pattern of expression was very similar to the staining pattern observed with UNC-73 B antibodies. UNC-73 B was also found more sporadically and at a lower level in anal depressor muscle, distal tip, P, seam, and developing vulva cells. Although C1 and C2/F were also expressed in axons, their expression was restricted to fewer neurons. Many process bundles within the body of the animal and neurons within the pharynx were positive for C1 and C2/F, but few axons were visible in the nerve ring. Along with the neuronal expression, C1 and C2/F were also expressed in neuron-associated socket and/or sheath cells and the neuroendocrine uv1 cells. A low level of expression was sporadically observed in body wall muscles.
• Subcellular Localization: Expressed in axons and cell bodies.

• Primary Identifier: Expr170
• Pattern: Expression is seen in several cells located anteriorly to the metacorpus. These cells have processes that terminate at the buccal cavity and are most likely neuronal sheath cells. Faint expression throughout the pharynx is also frequently observed.

• Primary Identifier: Expr13850
• Pattern: RNST-2::CHERRY was widely expressed from embryonic stages throughoutlarval and adult stages in various tissues, including pharynx, hypodermis, muscle, sheath cells, intestine cells, vulva and tail region.
• Subcellular Localization: RNST-2 localizes to lysosomes.

• Primary Identifier: Expr14124
• Remark: Other Strain: OH15136 / OH15137
• Pattern: glia, pharynx, male rays

• Primary Identifier: Expr7878
• Remark: Picture: Figure 4B.
• Pattern: miR-228 expression is indicated in inner/outer labial, cephalic, and amphid sensilla, the posterior deirid, and in phasmid sensilla of the young adult worm. Additionally, expression is observed in seam cells. Based on morphology of GFP-positive cells in sensilla, expression is provisionally identified in sheath and/or socket cells rather than ciliated neurons.

• Primary Identifier: Expr87
• Remark: reference is Labouesse et al. Development 122, 2579-2588 (1996). wild type strains. Legacy Data: Author "Labouesse M" "den Boer BGW". Date 1996-08. Sequence: Z32673.
• Pattern: All hypodermal cells in embryos, larvae and adults. Also neuron associated support cells (socket and sheath) and somatic gonad. In young L1 in the somatic gonad (Z1+Z4), in L2 expression is seen weakly in all somatic gonad cells except dtc and in adults and L4 expression is present in the uterine cells.

• Primary Identifier: Expr2748
• Pattern: Expressed in neurons in the head (AWB, ADF, ASG (very faint), various interlabial sensory neurons), socket cell, sheath cell in tip of nose, pharyngeal muscle (anterior strong, posterior weak), intestine.

• Primary Identifier: Expr1590
• Pattern: Early Expression by Ventral Epidermoblasts: Ventral epidermoblasts P1/2-P11/12 are the first cells to express UNC-6::HA during embryogenesis. Netrin becomes detectable in the cytoplasm of these twelve cells soon after their births (circa 230 min) and before they form into regular rows. This staining gradually decreases in intensity as the cells spread ventrally, forming two symmetrical rows. At the completion of neurulation, soon after these rows have come together along the ventral midline, cytoplasmic staining is no longer detectable. Expression by Larval Ventral Cord Motorneurons: Postembryonic motorneurons VA2 to VA12 and VB3 to VB11 express UNC-6::HA in the ventral nerve cord. Netrin becomes detectable in these cells soon after their births at the end of the first larval stage. This expression continues through the adult stage. After hatching, the C. elegans larva increases about 5-fold in both length and circumference before becoming an adult. Six axons (AVAL, AVAR, AVBL, AVBR, AVG, and PVQR) in the right longitudinal tract and one axon (PVQL) in the left tract provide a continuous source of UNC-6 in the ventral nerve cord. Near the end of the first larval stage, the twenty postembryonic motorneurons (VA2VA12, VB3VB11) provide a further source of UNC-6 in the right tract. These motorneurons could maintain and sharpen the proposed gradient of netrin in the basement membrane of the epidermis and skew its peak farther to the right of the ventral midline. Expression by Lateral Ring and Lumbar Ganglia Neurons: Paired neurons AVA, AVB, and PVQ express UNC-6::HA in the lateral and lumbar ganglia, respectively. Born circa 300 min, netrin does not become detectable in these cells until about 3-fold elongation. Netrin expression then continues through the larval and adult stages. After axogenesis begins, PVQ itself expresses UNC-6. Expression by Midline and Asymmetric Neurons in the Developing Nerve Cord: Positioned at the anterior and posterior ends of the developing ventral nerve cord, respectively, the midline neurons AVG and PVT express UNC-6::HA. Netrin becomes detectable in the PVT neuron soon after its birth (circa 290 min). At this time, PVT is positioned on the ventral midline of the body wall just anterior to the developing rectum. Netrin expression is transient; UNC-6::HA is no longer detectable in this cell by 3-fold elongation. By then, PVT has shifted to its mature position as the most anterior cell in the preanal ganglion. Born circa 290 min, AVG does not express UNC-6::HA until about 3-fold elongation. AVG is positioned on the ventral midline in the retrovesicular ganglion at this time. Netrin expression then continues through the larval and adult stages. Besides AVG, a second neuron in the retrovesicular ganglion, RIFL (born circa 410 min), also expresses UNC-6::HA from about 3-fold elongation through adult. Interestingly, no UNC-6::HA expression is ever observed in the bilateral homolog RIFR. Expression by Sheaths in the Developing Head: All six inner labial and both ventral cephalic sheaths express UNC-6::HA in the early neurula. Netrin becomes detectable in these cells soon after their births (circa 310 min). At this time, the inner labial sheaths are clustered together just anterior to the developing pharynx. As the head depression forms around comma stage, the cell bodies move anteriorly toward the sensillar rudiments, revealing processes trailing back to the developing nerve ring. The endfeet form a more-or-less complete path around the pharynx that anticipates the anterior margin of the nerve ring. UNC-6::HA is detectable along the entire cell body and process at this time. As the embryo elongates, the cell bodies initially stay near the sensillar rudiments at the tip of the head. Presently, as judged by UNC-6::HA staining, the processes no longer reach the developing nerve ring. By inference, they fail to stretch apace with the rapid elongation of the head. As the pharynx elongates, the cell bodies assume their mature positions, typically just anterior or posterior to the metacorpus. Netrin expression is transient; only weak staining of UNC-6::HA is detectable in these cells beyond 3-fold elongation. The sheath processes appear to provide a scaffold of netrin-labeled pathways that support and guide labial axons to the nerve ring. Moreover, their endfeet could form a ring-shaped substratum for axons within the ring itself. The cephalic sheaths are positioned dorsally and ventrally just anterior to the developing nerve ring. In the early neurula, these cells extend sheetlike processes that apparently anticipate the outer surface of the ring neuropil. At this time, UNC-6::HA is detectable throughout the cell body and processes of the ventral cephalic sheaths. Netrin expression is transient; UNC-6::HA is no longer detectable in these cells by 3-fold elongation. Finally, no UNC-6::HA expression is ever observed in the dorsal cephalic sheaths. Expression by a Midline Neuron in the Developing Pharynx: The midline neuron I5 expresses UNC-6::HA in the developing pharynx. Netrin becomes detectable in this cell soon after its birth (circa 280 min). Positioned on the ventral midline, I5 is the most posterior neuron in the pharynx at this time. Netrin expression is transient; UNC-6::HA is no longer detectable in the cell body after about 3-fold elongation, but staining in the axons persists somewhat longer.

• Primary Identifier: Expr1761
• Remark: Reference: personal communication from Oliver Hobert 2002-12-07.
• Pattern: Neuronal expression in: less than 10 head neuron classes (includ. ASI, SMDV, SMDD, AIY; sheath&socket cells; 1 class of VNC-MN. Non-neuronal expression in: intestine, coloemocytes.

• Primary Identifier: Expr2708
• Pattern: A dop-1::gfp reporter gene fusion has a more restricted expression pattern in the nervous system in larval and adult animals. Within the head ganglia, dop-1prom1::gfp is consistently expressed only in the RIS interneuron class. Only weak and inconsistent expression can be observed in other unidentified head neurons. Consistent and strong expression can be observed in the excretory gland cells and head muscles as well as in several labial and amphid sensory neuron support cells (sheath/socket cells). In the midbody and tail region, reporter gene expression is evident in the AVM and ALM touch sensory neurons, in the ALN and PLN neuron classes and in the PVQ interneurons, which extend axons along the left and right ventral nerve cord, respectively. Reporter gene fusions that contain more genomic sequence (dop-1prom2::gfp and dop-1trans::gfp;) show expression in similar sets of cells. In addition, dop-1prom2::gfp expression is observed in additional sets of unidentified head neurons.
• Subcellular Localization: A dop-1trans::gfp reporter protein, which contains dop-1 coding sequences, is localized to the plasma membrane and has a punctate appearance along axons and muscle arms.

• Primary Identifier: Expr646
• Remark: Reporter gene fusion type not specified. This information was extracted from published material (Archana Sharma-Oates, Andrew Mounsey and Ian A. Hope).
• Pattern: wrt-6 is expressed in the nuclei of four to seven sheath and socket cells of the anterior sensilla. Staining is observed in amphid and inner labial socket cells. Some worms show additional staining in seam cells and hypodermal syncytia.

• Primary Identifier: Expr2202
• Pattern: ver-1 was expressed in neural and muscular cell types localized in the anterior and posterior regions of the worm. The sheath, and very rarely the socket cells of the amphid and phasmid generally exhibited a bright fluorescence indicative of ver-1 promoter activity. In agreement with amphid sheath cell development, ver-1 expression was observed from the late embryonic stage to the adult, and for the phasmid sheath cells at the L1 stage, a stage when the cellular processes of the phasmid sheath cells are still lacking. They were identified by the channel they made for the chemosensory neurons after Dil dye filling. The ver-1 gene was upregulated at the dauer state. Beside these neural cell types, a frequent expression of the ver-1::gfp was observed in the muscular intestinal cell, which participates in the defecation process, and in the first and last intestinal cells, but rarely in other intestinal cells, indicating that this expression was not due to some unspecific expression by the gut.

• Primary Identifier: Expr595
• Remark: See Expr593, and Expr594 for expression patterns for the same locus. This information was extracted from published material (Archana Sharma-Oates, Andrew Mounsey and Ian A. Hope).
• Pattern: Earliest staining against antipeptide antibodies was in embryo 430 mins after first cleavage that had elongated about 1.5-fold. Staining persists throughout development in the sheath cells of amphids and phasmids. At L2, the 16 sheath cells of anterior sensilla localized at the tip of the head area are detected by antibody against extracellular domains of ADM-1. Antibody against peptides bp2 and bp3 show syncytial hypodermis, vulva and mature sperm.
• Subcellular Localization: Staining in sperm, between embryonic cells, in the sheath cells and in the hypodermis appear to be associated with intracellular membranes and the plasma membrane.

• Primary Identifier: Expr8771
• Remark: Picture: FigS7F to S7H.
• Pattern: kcc-3 is expressed in glia, the head and tail.

• Primary Identifier: Expr8603
• Remark: Picture: Fig. 5.
• Pattern: DAF-6::GFP was expressed in the sheath and socket cells, as well as in the excretory canal at all stages of animals. In dauers, DAF-6::GFP expression in these cells was dramatically reduced/eliminated, although a pair of small puncta at the tip of the sheath cells remained in some animals, and most of the animals failed dye filling. At the same time, DAF-6::GFP colocalized with a dauer-specific cuticular structure called dauer alae. DAF-6::GFP expression in the sheath and socket cells was fully restored within 24 h when dauers were allowed to recover under optimal growth conditions, coincident with recovery of dye filling.

• Primary Identifier: Expr2933
• Pattern: SRP-2 expression is evident in numerous cells of the C. elegans embryo in the early stages of development (36-100-cell stage). However, in the later stages of embryonic development, expression is confined to a few cells of the anterior hypoderm and the eggshell. In the L1 and L2 larvae, expression is seen in a number of hypodermal (possibly hyp 1, 2, and 3) cells near the buccal cavity. Expression is also seen in the sensory support (sheath or socket) cells of several sensilla. Strong expression is visible in the posterior intestinal cells, seam cells, and the body hypoderm. In the adult hermaphrodite, strong punctate expression is seen in the hypodermal cells surrounding the anterior and posterior bulb of the pharynx. Expression was also seen in hyp 7 cells near the vulval opening. A strong striated staining pattern was seen in what appears to be the fibrous organelles that link muscle/hypoderm/cuticle. GFP expression was also observed in the phasmid (PHA and PHB) neurons, which was confirmed by co-staining with the amphid neuron-specific dye, DiI. The overall SRP-2::GFP expression pattern was similar in the hermaphrodites and males.

• Primary Identifier: Expr1768
• Remark: Reference: personal communication from Oliver Hobert 2002-12-07.
• Pattern: Neuronal expression in: one VNC MN class (L1/adult); sensory sheath cells; weak inconsistent head neurons Non-neuronal expression in: intestine

• Primary Identifier: Expr14257
• Pattern: Strong GFP fluorescence was observed from the embryonic to adult stages. In the larval stage, the GFP fluorescence was observed in glial cells, a type of neuronal cell in the head, body-wall muscle cells, intestinal cells and intestinal valve muscle cells, and was also observed in these cells and vulval muscle cells in adults.

• Primary Identifier: Expr12011
• Pattern: The earliest Ppa-obi-1 expression occurs in at least one cell in the pre-comma embryonic stage but soon disappears until weak expression reappears in the hyp7 and seam cells in J4 larvae. The most robust and diverse Ppa-obi-1 expression was found in mid-J4 hermaphrodites, which is consistent with real time quantitative PCR results indicating transcript levels in J2 and J3 larvae are less than in J4 larvae. In the mid-J4 stage, Ppa-obi-1 is strongly expressed in the major hypodermal syncytium and the lateral hypodermal cells that cover most of the body (hyp7 and seam cells) as well as the ventral tail Ppa-obi-1 is also strongly expressed in the P(5-7).p cell descendants that form the vulva lumen (vulC, D, E) during the mid-J4 stage until just prior to vulval eversion, as well as in the vulva muscles (likely vm1, 2). Most notably, Ppa-obi-1 expression was observed in the two bilaterally symmetrical specialized epithelial cells that envelope the chemosensory neurons, known as the amphid sheath cells. Ppa-obi-1p::gfp expression in the putative amphid sheath cells lie dorsal-lateral and posterior to the DiI labeled amphid neurons ASK, ADL, and ASI. Expression was also noticed in four unknown cell types anterior to the metacarpus (anterior pharyngeal bulb), which could be putative neuronal support cells for the inner labial or outer labial quadrant sensilla (IL or OLQ). Ppa-obi-1 is also expressed in putative duct and excretory cells on the ventral anterior side that form part of the excretory system.

• Primary Identifier: Expr3015
• Pattern: Expressed in PHA, I2, socket/sheath cells. Faint or variable expression observed in pharyngeal muscle and several cells in the head. No male specific expression.

• Primary Identifier: Expr645
• Remark: Reporter gene fusion type not specified. This information was extracted from published material (Archana Sharma-Oates, Andrew Mounsey and Ian A. Hope).
• Pattern: wrt-5 starts expression at the beginning of morphogenesis in all seam cells and the excretory cells and remains until adult stage. In larvae and adults, wrt-5 is also expressed strongly in the six cells of the pharyngeal-intestinal valve and the rectal valve. Expression is seen in phasmid socket cells and in sheath and/or socket cells of the anterior sensilla at all postembryonic stages. In adults expression is observed in gonadal sheath cells, spermathecal sheath cells and the uterus.

• Primary Identifier: Expr16007
• Pattern: We observed that, in WT animals, ATG-9 endogenously tagged with GFP (ATG-9::GFP) is strongly expressed in the nerve ring , as well as in the somatic sheath and spermatheca. We also found strong expression of ATG-9::GFP in the hypodermis, a tissue that contains abundant LDs detectable by BODIPY 493 staining.

• Primary Identifier: Expr2055
• Remark: Other strain-- UL1005
• Pattern: Expression is seen in a number of components in all larval stages and adults. Diffuse expression is seen in three muscle types-- body wall, pharyngeal, and vulval. Diffuse expression is also seen in cells of the somatic gonad. The final component consists of weak expression in a few cells surrounding the pharynx that may correspond to neuronal sheath cells.

• Primary Identifier: Expr1681
• Remark: During all developmental stages, ceh-43::gfp expression resembles the antibody staining pattern published by Panganiban et al. (1997). Therefore, both methods are likely to reflect the natural ceh-43 expression pattern. However, gfp expression is visible generally in fewer cells and is absent from most nerve ring neurons. Therefore, the reporter may not show the complete expression pattern. The short pDllB promoter drives expression only in the main body syncytium, hyp7, where pDllA is not expressed. Authors believe that this expression may not reflect the natural ceh-43::gfp expression, because it is not consistent with the antibody staining from Panganiban et al. (1997). Reporter gene fusion type not specified.
• Pattern: During larval stages, ceh-43::gfp diminishes and is almost absent in adults. In newly hatched larvae, we identified the binucleate dorsal hyp3 and ventral hyp4 cells, the CAN neurons, and the PVQ neurons. Sheath and/or socket cells of several other anterior sensilla are stained as well, identified from their morphology and their position around the pharynx procorpus. In 3-fold stage embryos that move around in the eggshell, the mouth opening can occasionally be seen from above; at the tip of the head, a small ring encircles the mouth opening. It most likely belongs to a small cylindrical hypodermal syncytium such as hyp4 or hyp3, or other small hypodermal cells that connect the buccal cavity to the mouth. All the identified and suspected cells belong to the AB lineage. ceh-43::gfp expression starts around gastrulation in several superficial cells. By following cell divisions, almost all fifth generation descendants of the AB blastomere were identified as GFP positive. Shortly before morphogenesis, GFP expressing cells lie anteriorly, laterally, and anterodorsally at the surface of the embryo. These positions are characteristic for clones of AB descendants. Not all the progeny of the AB blastomere express GFP. At 1.5-fold egg length, most embryonic cell divisions have occurred. At that time, GFP expression is strongest in cells surrounding an indentation at the anterior end, the anterior sensory depression, as well as in two superficial bilateral cells and one ventral cell in the tail. Among these cells are most likely the cells identified in larvae or their precursors. GFP expression is weaker in lateral head regions, the position of future nerve ring neurons.

0 Life Stages

2 Parents

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
cells that support sensory neurons, similar to glial cells in vertebrates. A category which collectively refers to socket cells, sheath cells, and structural cells, or their processes. All of these cells extend long processes which serve a supporting role, rather like glia, to form a protective environment around sensory neuron endings. In addition, some of these cells extend broad thin processes from their somata which wrap around neuronal ganglia, again in a glia-like fashion	accessory cell	support cell	WBbt:0005762
an epithelial cell that serves either to bridge two neighboring epithelial tissues or to form an opening in the epithelium.	interfacial epithelial cell	interfacial cell	WBbt:0005754