Mitochondrial DNA copy number of peripheral blood in bipolar disorder: The present study and a meta-analysis

Numerous evidence indicated mitochondrial abnormalities in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD); however, it remains unclear whether aberrant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number (cn) occur in BD due to the conflicting results in previous studies. Here, peripheral blood mtDNAcn in 69 BD patients and 54 controls were analysed via qPCR. BD patients had significantly lower mtDNAcn compared to controls (regardless of their BD type [BD I or II]). Meta-analysis for all previous BD-mtDNAcn studies combining our results with previously published studies failed to identify any significant association. Meanwhile, Asian-specific meta-analysis remarkably revealed lower mtDNAcn in BD patients.