In type 1 diabetes, autoimmune destruction targets which pancreatic cells?

• A. Hepatocytes
• B. Pancreatic beta cells
• C. Pancreatic alpha cells
• D. Adipocytes

Answer: (B)

Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets leads to type 1 diabetes. These beta cells are responsible for synthesizing and secreting insulin in response to rising blood glucose; when the immune system attacks and destroys them, insulin production drops dramatically, causing hyperglycemia and dependence on exogenous insulin. The other options aren’t the target of this autoimmune process: alpha cells, which make glucagon, are not primarily destroyed; hepatocytes and adipocytes are not pancreatic endocrine cells and are not the autoimmune targets in this condition.