the present invention is directed to a material and method for the stimulation of the production of cytokines . several polysaccharides , including polymers of different size of ⊕ 1 - 4 linked d - mannuronic acid , chitosan and cellulose oxidized in c - 6 position c60xy ) induce human monocytes to produce the cytokines . preferably , the molecular weights of poly - m and chitosan are above 50 , 000 and 20 , 000 respectively . pretreatment of the monocytes with ifn - γ increases the cytokine production from monocytes stimulated with all polysaccharides tested . the subject polysaccharides worked in vivo and in vitro . the present invention has therapeutic utility as vaccine adjuvants and components . therapeutic compositions comprising biologically active quantities of the compositions of the present invention may be employed to potentiate antibody production in response to vaccine antigens . anti - tumor , anti - bacteriological , anti - fungal and anti - viral effects may be expected .