Reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting from oxidative stress have a close relationship with cell apoptosis. ROS induces cell apoptosis through activating different signaling pathways including mitochondria, Bcl-2, NF-κB, MAPK_S and Caspases and so on. Cell apoptosis plays a significant role in the course of kidney diseases. In this paper, the function of oxidative stress in the development and progression of kidney diseases and apoptosis mechanism induced by oxidative stress are reviewed.