Standpoints in mitochondrial dysfunction: Underlying mechanisms in search of therapeutic strategies

•Mitochondrial dysfunction is a convergent point for the pathophysiology of disease.•Dysfunctional mitochondria can signal in a particular way in response to stress.•Pharmacological strategies targeting mitochondria show mitophagy as a promising target.•Therapeutic strategies could accelerate or attenuate the mitochondrial life cycle. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been defined as a reduced efficiency of mitochondria to produce ATP given by a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, alterations in the electron transport chain (ETC) function, with increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and decrease in oxygen consumption. During the last decades, mitochondrial dysfunction has been the focus of many researchers as a convergent point for the pathophysiology of several diseases. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is detrimental to cells, tissues and organisms, nevertheless, dysfunctional mitochondria can signal in a particular way in response to stress, a characteristic that may be useful to search for new therapeutic strategies with a common feature. The aim of this review addresses mitochondrial dysfunction and stress signaling as a promising target for future drug development.