Why are certain cells more likely to be attacked in autoimmune conditions?
Autoimmune reactions each have their target antigens. They'll &quot;attack&quot; wherever those antigens are expressed. In the case of Type 1 diabetes, many specific antigens have been identified, and they all correspond to regions on the surface of pancreatic islet β cells. Ultimately, however, the immune reaction is targeting proinsulin and its processed product insulin, which are produced by solely by β cells. This is an interesting review covering the topic.