The invention relates to new uses of soluble CEACAM6 or CEACAM8, or substances that are specific to soluble CEACAM8. Another object of the invention concerns the use of CEACAM1-specific and/or CEACAM6-specific compounds for apoptosis prevention in-vitro. The invention also relates to a method for screening compounds, which prevent apoptosis and a method for preventing apoptosis in human granulocytes.