Stimulation of cytokine production

A method of increasing IL-2 and IL-3 levels in a mammal by administration of a composition containing an IL-2 or IL-3 elevating amount of a compound of the formula:

• ##STR2## wherein each R individually may be H, alkenyl of 2-8 carbons, alkyl of 1-8 carbons, phenylalkyl of 1-4 carbons, phenyl, or COR.sub.2 (acyl), wherein R.sub.2 is H, alkyl of 1-8 carbons, alkenyl of 2-8 carbons, phenylalkyl wherein the alkyl has 1-4 carbons or phenyl wherein the phenyl moiety may have up to three substituents chosen from among hydroxy, carboxy of 1-4 carbons, halo, alkoxy of 1-4 carbons, alkyl of 1-4 carbons, or alkenyl of 2-4 carbons and wherein any alkyl may be a straight chain, branched chain, or the alkyl may be wholly or partially cyclized.