Apoptosis in human neutrophil. Apoptosis, also called programmed cell death, is a process inherent in many cells of the body. In the embryo, hands start as paddles until cells between prospective fingers die by apoptosis. Apoptosis has been triggered in this white blood cell by turning off the cell's protein synthesis. Neutrophils are produced constantly in the marrow and leave to circulate in the blood. After 24 hours they undergo apoptosis and are eaten by other body cells.