S U M M A R YRecent studies suggest important functions for laminin-8 (Ln-8; ␣ 4  1 ␥ 1) in vascular and blood cell biology, but its distribution in human tissues has remained elusive. We have raised a monoclonal antibody (MAb) FC10, and by enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) and Western blotting techniques we show that it recognizes the human Ln ␣ 4-chain. Immunoreactivity for the Ln ␣ 4-chain was localized in tissues of mesodermal origin, such as basement membranes (BMs) of endothelia, adipocytes, and skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle cells. In addition, the Ln ␣ 4-chain was found in regions of some epithelial BMs, including epidermis, salivary glands, pancreas, esophageal and gastric glands, intestinal crypts, and some renal medullary tubules. Developmental differences in the distribution of Ln ␣ 4-chain were detected in skeletal muscle, walls of vessels, and intestinal crypts. Ln ␣ 4-and Ln ␣ 2-chains co-localized in BMs of fetal skeletal muscle cells and in some epithelial BMs, e.g., in gastric glands and acini of pancreas. Cultured human pulmonary artery endothelial (HPAE) cells produced Ln ␣ 4-chain as M r 180,000 and 200,000 doublet and rapidly deposited it to the growth substratum. In cell-free extracellular matrices of human kidney and lung, Ln ␣ 4-chain was found as M r 180,000 protein.