TNF and depressive symptom measurement: Several studies support this view: Electroacupuncture can inhibit the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in the hippocampus of CUMS rats, reducing the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α (40); acupuncture can reduce the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, and TNF-α proteins in the hippocampus of rats subjected to chronic restraint stress, alleviating depressive behavior (53); and acupuncture can also reduce the expression of HMGB-1, Iba-1, and TNF-α in the hippocampus of rats with chronic restraint stress-induced depression, alleviating HMGB-1-mediated neuroinflammation (30).