GCN2 activation in mice suppresses pro-inflammatory cues and decreases the recruitment of macrophages to the kidney during glomerular inflammation (Chaudhary et al., 2015), while the inhibition of autophagy or knockout of IDO1 or GCN2 in mice exacerbates nephritis to fatal end-stage renal failure. The gene discussed is EIF2AK4; the disease is stage 5 chronic kidney disease.