A Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus cDNA microarray containing 871 unique cDNAs including 91 putative immune-related genes from our EST studies was constructed and used to characterize of gene expression of in vitro grown kidney cells stimulated with mitogens such as ConA, PMA, LPS or infected with hirame rhabdovirus (HRV). The numbers of genes whose expressions were increased or decreased by these factors were: 17 by Con A, 139 by PMA, 76 by LPS and 182 by HRV infection. The treatment of Con A for 1 and 6h affected the expression of only a few of the immune-related genes. PMA down-regulated far more genes than it up-regulated. Apoptosis-related factors, such as c-fos, NGF induced protein IB and NR13 genes, were among the genes whose expressions were induced by PMA. LPS induced the expression of inflammation-related genes, such as IL-1beta, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and collagenase. The expressions of many genes were induced after 3h HRV infection but some of them were decreased to the basal level after 6h HRV infection. The expression of some genes of unknown function were induced or reduced by Con A, PMA or LPS or by HRV infection in different time periods. From all of the gene expression profiling in this study, we could get lots of information about the dynamic changes in the gene expression of the kidney cells under different stress or stimulations.