Susceptibility to doxorubicin-induced nephropathy (DIN), a toxic model for the induction of proteinurie in mice, is related to the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C6418T of the prkdc gene encoding for the DNA repair enzyme DNA-PKcs. In addition, plasminogen (plg) has been reported to play a role in glomerular damage. Here, we investigated the interdependence of both factors for the development of DIN. Genotyping confirmed the SNP of the prkdc gene in C57BL/6 (prkdcC6418/C6418) and 129S1/SvImJ (prkdcT6418/T6418) mice. Intercross of heterozygous 129SB6F1 mice led to 129SB6F2 hybrids with Mendelian inheritance of the SNP. After doxorubicin injection, only homozygous F2 mice with prkdcT6418/T6418 developed proteinuria. Genetic deficiency of plg (plg-/-) in otherwise susceptible 129S1/SvImJ mice led to resistance to DIN. Immunohistochemistry revealed glomerular binding of plg in plg+/+ mice after doxorubicin injection involving histone H2B as plg receptor. In doxorubicin resistant C57BL/6 mice, plg binding was absent. In conclusion, susceptibility to DIN in 129S1/SvImJ mice is determined by a hierarchical two hit process requiring the C6418T SNP in the prdkc gene and subsequent glomerular binding of plasminogen.