Just came across this paper, looks very intriguing and discusses a few interesting concepts that I haven't seen mentioned on forums but could be relevant to ME ...
Free access
Free access
ABSTRACT:
The immune system protects from infections primarily by detecting and eliminating the invading pathogens; however, the host organism can also protect itself from infectious diseases by reducing the negative impact of infections on host fitness. This ability to tolerate a pathogen’s presence is a distinct host defense strategy, which has been largely overlooked in animal and human studies. Introduction of the notion of “disease tolerance” into the conceptual toolkit of immunology will expand our understanding of infectious diseases and host pathogen interactions. Analysis of disease tolerance mechanisms should provide new approaches for the treatment of infections and other diseases.
... Alterations in host metabolism and electrolyte balance, changes in blood pressure, impaired absorptive functions of intestinal and respiratory epithelia, local tissue hypoxia and excessive extracellular matrix remodeling, are all examples of disturbances in host physiology that can be caused by pathogens or the immune responses they elicit (17, 32). In each case, there are dedicated mechanisms that restore homeostasis and normal tissue function (regardless of what caused their dysregulation), and engagement of these mechanisms helps to reduce the fitness costs associated with infections. When these mechanisms are sufficient to prevent significant disruptions of physiological functions, infections remain asymptomatic ...