Induction of apoptotic death and retardation of neuronal differentiation of human neural stem cells by sodium arsenite treatment

► Arsenite induces the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in human neural stem cells. ► Arsenite-induced apoptosis is strongly upregulated by suppression of PI3K-AKT. ► Arsenite-induced apoptosis is strongly down-regulated by inhibition of JNK-cJun. ► Arsenite negatively affects neuronal differentiation by inhibition of PI3K-AKT.