A physician explains to a medical student that the insulin deficiency seen in Type 1 diabetes results from damage to pancreatic beta cells. Which underlying factor is most directly responsible for this damage?

Persistent hypersecretion of cortisol from the adrenal cortex.

Viral infection causing immediate necrosis of all pancreatic tissue.

Autoimmune recognition of beta-cell antigens by the immune system.

Reduced blood supply to the pancreas due to atherosclerosis.