Here, this study finds that autophagy related 5 (ATG5) is obviously increased in uric acid (UA), aristolochic acid (AA) and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1)‐induced HK‐2 cells, as well as in kidneys from patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mice with hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN), aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and unilateral renal ischemia‐reperfusion injury (uIRI). The gene discussed is ATG5; the disease is Balkan nephropathy.