Using a chILD-like disease model, the 129/Sv Sftpc−/− model, we found that Sftpc+/+ ATII cells can engraft after pre-conditioning with low-dose bleomycin, especially early in the course of the disease, and engrafted Sftpc+/+ ATII cells are capable of repairing lung injury in those mice. The gene discussed is SFTPC; the disease is interstitial lung disease specific to childhood.