Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by progressive decline in renal function. Podocyte dropouts contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic and nondiabetic CKD. Zhou and colleagues demonstrate that the association between advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) elicited podocyte injuries, using cultured podocytes and mice injected with AOPPs. This study suggests that the blockade of RAGE is preventive and therapeutic against podocyte apoptosis caused by oxidative stress-related AOPPs in CKD.