In their experience on lab mice, the researchers found a protein that seems to extend retinal cells lives in diseased and healthy eyes.

These findings may prove quite effective for the treatments that help to avoid blindness in people who are genetically inclined to get retinal disease.

Histone deacetylase 4 or HDAC4 is a protein that produced naturally by humans as well as mice. In general, this hormone has involvement in bone and muscle development regulation.

The study showed that the decrease in the levels of HDAC4 can become the cause of premature light-sensitive cell’s death in the eyes.  And contrarily, if the quantities of this protein are increased from normal levels, it may help to boost the lifespan of important vision cells.

If the finding is replicated in humans, it may help to find new interventions in preventing disease driven blindness or to develop new methods for restoring sight in diseased retina.

Bo Chen, who authored the study, says in a news release: “Some innate genetic defects become the cause of two kinds of light-sensitive or photoreceptor cells that help to hold light in the eye. The mutation in genes also becomes the cause of total blindness.”

“But the good thing is that, we can promote the lifespan of these affected photoreceptors cells with the help of this specific type of protein.” Chen adds.

The study is being published in the journal Science Jan.9 issue.