TNF and hereditary elliptocytosis: In this study, we evaluated the role of EA treatment in an established rat HE model and found that EA therapy reduced IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus, and combination of EA and drugs significantly downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB. Compared with the CCl4 + Lac group, the CCl4 + EA and CCl4 + CM groups had significant effects.