The carboxy-terminal cross-linking domain (NCl) of type IV procollagen was isolated from human placenta and used for the production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Purity of the antigen and specificity of the antibodies were verified by Western blotting and radioimmunoassays. A radioimmunoassay was developed using rabbit antiserum. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 4.7% and 5.8%, respectively; recovery of NCl added to serum and bile was 95-105%. NCl concentration in sera of healthy volunteers was 6 +/- 2.9 ng/ml (mean +/- 2.5 SD) and was elevated up to 18 ng in sera of patients with autoimmune or metastatic tumor disease and up to 240 ng in sera of patients with fibrogenic liver disease. Substantial amounts of antigen were also found in bile, urine, and ascites. 67% of serum antigens eluted from an agarose A5M column with an apparent molecular weight of 60 kD and 23% with a molecular weight of 90 and 150 kD, well below the molecular weight of type IV procollagen (550 kD). Serum NCl is apparently derived from the degradation of basement membrane collagen. The time course of NCl concentrations in sera of patients with fibrogenic liver disease showed no correlation with the serum concentration of the amino-terminal procollagen type III peptide, a marker of hepatic collagen biosynthesis. A decline of serum NCl levels along with elevated serum procollagen type III peptides apparently indicates bad prognosis in fibrogenic liver disease. The radioimmunoassay for NCl is a useful tool for studying type IV collagen metabolism in conditions causing remodeling or breakdown of basement membranes.