Select plant tannins induce IL-2Ralpha up-regulation and augment cell division in gammadelta T cells.

Gammadelta T cells are innate immune cells that participate in host responses against many pathogens and cancers. Recently, phosphoantigen-based drugs, capable of expanding gammadelta T cells in vivo, entered clinical trials with the goal of enhancing innate immune system functions. Potential shortcomings of these drugs include the induction of nonresponsiveness upon repeated use and the expansion of only the Vdelta2 subset of human gammadelta T cells.