Glomerular visceral epithelial cells (podocytes) play a critical role in the maintenance of glomerular permselectivity. Podocyte injury, manifesting as proteinuria, is the cause of many glomerular diseases. We reported previously that calcium-independent phospholipase A 2 ␥ (iPLA 2 ␥) is cytoprotective against complement-mediated glomerular epithelial cell injury. Studies in iPLA 2 ␥ KO mice have demonstrated an important role for iPLA 2 ␥ in mitochondrial lipid turnover, membrane structure, and metabolism. The aim of the present study was to employ iPLA 2 ␥ KO mice to better understand the role of iPLA 2 ␥ in normal glomerular and podocyte function as well as in glomerular injury. We show that deletion of iPLA 2 ␥ did not cause detectable albuminuria; however, it resulted in mitochondrial structural abnormalities and enhanced autophagy in podocytes as well as loss of podocytes in aging KO mice. Moreover, after induction of anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis in young mice, iPLA 2 ␥ KO mice exhibited significantly increased levels of albuminuria, podocyte injury, and loss of podocytes compared with wild type. Thus, iPLA 2 ␥ has a protective functional role in the normal glomerulus and in glomerulonephritis. Understanding the role of iPLA 2 ␥ in glomerular pathophysiology provides opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to glomerular injury and proteinuria.