Opposed arsenite-mediated regulation of p53-survivin is involved in neoplastic transformation, DNA damage, or apoptosis in human keratinocytes

► Different concentrations of arsenite cause biphasic effects in HaCaT cells. ► p53-survivin signal pathway plays a role in arsenite-induced biphasic effects. ► ERKs inactivate p53, but improve survivin expression by NF-κB/mot-2. ► JNKs block survivin expression by preventing p53 from mdm2-mediated degradation. ► ERKs and JNKs play roles in arsenite-induced biphasic effects.