Apoptosis is of fundamental importance and plays a key role in determining the outcome of glomerulonephritis. Under ideal circumstances,apoptosis deletes infiltrating leukocytes and excess numbers of resident cells that are surplus to requirements, thereby facilitating tissue remodeling and the restoration of normal tissue architecture. Apoptosis also has a darker side, however, and may be responsible for the deletion of critically important resident glomerular cells, resulting in hypocellular scarring and loss of renal function. Recent data indicate that glomerular cell apoptosis may be manipulated to improve outcome in experimental models of renal inflammation. It is hoped that further research will provide novel therapeutic strategies for patients with inflammatory glomerulonephritis.