The results of this study indicate that 1) telo-FISH is a viable method of assessing telomere length in lacrimal gland; and 2) telomere length in Sjögren syndrome is shorter than in non-Sjögren syndrome, possibly due to acceleration of the cell cycle to maintain lacrimal gland cell homeostasis, and associated with lower levels of expression of p63 and nucleostemin. Here, GNL3 is linked to Sjogren syndrome.