We have compared the pattern of gene expression in long term cultured precursor dendritic cells (DC), either untreated (immature) or cultured for two days in the presence of recombinant murine (rm)-TNF alpha (mature). The hybridization signature of complex cDNA probes prepared from total RNA extracted from immature and mature DC were analyzed using a mouse thymic cDNA library, gridded on high density filters. For each clone spotted on the filters, we have measured using an imaging plate device the hybridization signals of the complex probe obtained from immature or mature DC. Comparative analysis of these values allowed us to identify differentially expressed gene products. Our goal is to identify a new set of genes induced or repressed during DC maturation elicited by rmTNF alpha treatment.