Moreover, compared to the HE group, the expression of Cathepsin D was significantly higher in the EEP + HE group (P < 0.05) and significantly lower in the LEP + HE group (P < 0.05), while the expression of p62 was significantly lower in the EEP, LEP, and EEP + HE than in the HE group (P < 0.05). Here, CTSD is linked to hereditary elliptocytosis.