The prevention and treatment of kidney disease has been a focus of medical research.Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) is a key factor in the metabolic stress response of mammalian cells, inducing inhibition of overall protein translation, restoring protein synthesis and controlling cell survival under different cellular metabolic stresses, and its kinase plays an important role in maintaining normal physiological functions of the body as well as in the development of tumor, immune and metabolism-related diseases. It is suggested that eIF2α kinase may be involved in the pathological process of several renal diseases. Therefore, this paper summarizes the research progress on eIF2α kinase family and its possible role in renal diseases, in order to provide a new theoretical basis and reference for the prevention and treatment of renal diseases.