Latar Belakang: Anak-anak yang menderita stunting memiliki berbagai kekurangan jika dibandingkan anak-anak sebayanya yang memiliki HAZ normal, baik dari segi pertumbuhan fisik, emosional, maupun dalam sistem imun. Salah satu komponen sistem imun yang ada dalam tubuh adalah sitokin proinflamasi interleukin-18 yang berperan sebagai faktor kemotaksis sel T, basofil, serta neutrofil, penginduksi interleukin lainnya, serta menginduksi sel Th1 dan IFN- I³. Tujuan: Menganalisis ekspresi gen IL-18 pada anak stunting jika dibandingkan dengan anak dengan HAZ normal, menganalisis korelasi antara status stunting, ekspresi IL-18, status infeksi cacing, serta status OHI-S. Metode: Sampel diambil dari bahan biologis tersimpan berupa RNA cairan sulkus gingiva anak 6-8 tahun di Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) (n=8). Kemudian dilakukan ekstraksi RNA, sintesis cDNA, pre amplifikasi, dan kemudian dilakukan real-time PCR. Hasil: Tidak ditemukan perbedaan bermakna secara statistik pada ekspresi gen IL-18 anak stunting dibanding anak dengan HAZ normal (p ≥ 0,05) dan tidak pula ditemukan korelasi baik antara status stunting dan status infeksi cacing, ekspresi IL-18 dan status infeksi cacing, status stunting dan OHI-S, maupun ekspresi gen IL-18 dan status OHI-S (p ≥ 0,05). Kesimpulan: Meskipun ditemukan adanya downregulation pada ekspresi gen IL-18 anak stunting jika dibandingkan anak normal, perbedaan tersebut tidak bermakna secara statistik Tidak ditemukan korelasi pada ekspresi gen IL-18, status infeksi cacing, serta status OHI-S.

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Background: Stunted children have many handicaps compared to their normal age counterparts who have normal HAZ, either in physical growth, emotional growth, or in their immune system. Interleukin-18 is a part of the immune system, a proinflammatory cytokine that acts as a chemotaxis factor for T-cell, basophil, neutrophil, and inducts IFN- γ, Th1, and other cytokines.

Purpose: To analyze IL-18 expression in stunted children compared to their normal age counterpart, to analyze the correlation between stunting status, IL-18 expression, helminths infection status, and OHI-S.

Methods: Samples were stored biological material, taken from 6 to 7 years old’s gingival crevicular fluid from NTT (n=8). RNA was extracted from samples, then synthesized to cDNA, preamplified, and analyzed in RT-PCR. 

Results: The difference in IL-18 expression in stunted children compared to children with normal HAZ was not statistically significant.  There were no correlation between stunting status and helminths infection status, IL-18 expression and helminths infection status, stunting status, and OHI-S, nor IL-18 expression and OHI-S.

Conclusion: Even though a downregulation in IL-18 expression in stunted children compared to children with normal HAZ was found, the difference was not statistically significant. There was also no correlation between IL-18 expression, helminths infection status, and OHI-S status.