The ability of the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD) peptide to regulate CXCR4 expression and monocyte and fibrocyte migration in vivo and thereby to inhibit the progression of lung injury and/or fibrosis was demonstrated in bleomycin-treated mice, suggesting that CSD peptide may be a useful therapeutic agent in SSc-ILD. The gene discussed is CXCR4; the disease is systemic sclerosis.