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Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a polygenic disease; however, the specific risk genetic variants of schizophrenia are still largely unknown. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is important genetic factor for the susceptibility of schizophrenia. Investigating individual candidate gene contributing to disease risk remains important. Methods In a case-control study, five SNPs located in 6p21.3-p23.1 including rs2021722 in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus and rs107822, rs383711, rs439205 and rs421446 within the upstream of microRNA-219a-1 were genotyped in 454 schizophrenia patients and 445 healthy controls to investigate the possible association between the loci and schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population. Results Our results showed significant associations between the rs2021722 and schizophrenia in allele (A vs. G: adjusted OR = 1.661, 95%CI = 1.196–2.308), co-dominant (AG vs. GG: OR = 1.760, 95%CI = 1.234–2.510) and dominant genetic model (AG + AA vs. GG: OR = 1.756, 95%CI = 1.237–2.492), respectively. Haplotype analysis showed that TGGT and CAAC were protective factor for schizophrenia compared with TAAC haplotype (OR = 0.324, 95% CI = 0.157–0.672; OR = 0.423, 95% CI = 0.199–0.900). Conclusions These findings indicate that rs2021722 in HLA locus might be involved in pathogenesis of schizophrenia and that genotypes AG and allele A of the locus are risk factors for schizophrenia in the Han Chinese population, confirming the association between immune system and schizophrenia.