The expression of Annexins V and VIII by human lung, liver, kidney, skin, heart, uterus, spleen and skeletal muscle was investigated by ELISA. All investigated tissues contained Annexin V. Its level varied with the tissue from around 5 microgram (skin) to approximately 120 micrograms (spleen) per g of wet tissue. Contradistinctionally Annexin VIII expression was less ubiquitous and less abundant. Only lung, skin, liver, and kidney expressed Annexin VIII. Its levels were approximately 100-fold less then the Annexin V levels. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung sections revealed Annexin VIII presence exclusively in the endothelia. Annexin V and VIII levels of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human arterial smooth muscle cells, human lung fibroblasts and HeLa cells were measured by ELISA. All cell types expressed Annexin V whereas only HeLa cells had detectable levels of Annexin VIII. The results indicate a tissue specific expression of Annexin VIII by lung endothelium, suggesting a highly specialised function.