The present disclosure relates to a method of inhibiting fibrocyte or profibrotic macrophage formation by administering a CD209-binding compound or antibody to monocytes in a target location in an amount and for a time sufficient to suppress formation of fibrocytes or profibrotic macrophages from the monocytes. It also relates to compounds and pharmaceutical formulations for use in such methods. The disclosure further relates to compositions usable with these methods and method of detecting CD209-binding compounds and antibodies able to inhibit fibrocyte or profibrotic macrophage formation.