Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent degradation process that eliminates damaged macromolecular proteins and aging organelles to maintain intracellular homeostasis. Autophagy is observed in almost all eukaryotic cells and plays important roles in many cellular physiological processes, including the cell proliferation and growth, cellular functional alteration and phenotypical transition. Renal tubule is an important target for renal injury under different pathological conditions. Following the discoveries of the molecular basis of autophagy, accumulated lines of evidence have indicated that autophagy dysfunction in tubule is involved in the pathogenesis of many renal diseases. This review will summarize the recent progress in molecule mechanism of autophagy and its roles in renal tubular injury.