Aim To investigate whether CXC ligand 16(CXCL16) expressions were controlled by interferon-gamma(IFN-γ) secreted by the activated T cells and the effect on lipid accumulation in the rat aortic smooth muscle cells(SMC). Methods The cells were grown to confluence and then incubated with different concentration of IFN-γ.The CXCL16 expression was identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR);The effect of IFN-γ on oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) uptake was identified by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) analysis. Results The CXCL16 mRNA expression was significantly increased after IFN-γ treatment;The rat aortic SMC lipid accumulation after IFN-γ treatment was increased in treated cells compared with untreated cells. Conclusion The T cell cytokine IFN-γ induces CXCL16 mRNA expression in rat aortic SMC and then leads to lipid accumulation in rat aortic SMC.