MEMPHIS, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers have found a molecule that might improve cancer vaccines, as well as therapies for other diseases.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists said their discovery of a new cytokine called IL-35 could allow clinicians to treat diseases by varying the immune response.

The scientists said the new signaling molecule prevents immune responses from damaging the body. That finding could lead to the development of new vaccine treatments for cancer; autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes; and for inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and asthma.

The St. Jude team discovered specialized immune lymphocytes called regulatory T cells release a protein complex composed of Ebi3 and Il12a. The researchers said that protein complex acts like a brake on the activity of the aggressive immune cells called effector T lymphocytes.

A report on the discovery appears in the journal Nature.