Mitochondria at the crossroad of dysregulated inflammatory and metabolic processes in bipolar disorders

• The pathophysiology underpinnings of bipolar disorders are not fully defined. • Mitochondria are likely to play major role in bipolar disorders. • Patients with bipolar disorders show signs of deregulated metabolism and inflammation. • Mitochondrial dysfunctions could lead to the metabolic and inflammatory altered processes. In last few decades, considerable evidence has emphasized the significant involvement of mitochondria, often referred to as the “powerhouse of the cell,” in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Given crucial mitochondrial functions in cellular metabolism and inflammation, both of which are compromised in BD, this perspective review examines the central role of mitochondria in inflammation and metabolism within the context of this disorder. We first describe the significance of mitochondria in metabolism before presenting the dysregulated inflammatory and metabolic processes. Then, we present a synthetic and hypothetical model of the importance of mitochondria in those dysfunctional pathways. The article also reviews different techniques for assessing mitochondrial function and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic implications. This review aims to improve the understanding of the inflammatory and metabolic comorbidities associated with bipolar disorders along with mitochondrial alterations within this context.